BJP leader and former Minister of State for Railways O. Rajagopal said on Thursday that drainage system in Thiruvananthapuram should be improved by providing for direct discharge of flood waters into sea to prevent flooding of Thiruvananthapuram railway station and nearby areas.
Addressing a press conference here, the BJP leader said that the regulation of trains and difficulties caused to the public during the last two days, following heavy rains, was the result of ineptness and lack of farsightedness on the part of the State government. Though the Railway Divisional Manager had blamed the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation, the Corporation had only limited role to play in the matter.
Mr. Rajagopal recalled that twelve years ago, when he was the Union Minister, he had convened a meeting of all concerned to discuss flooding of the station premises and experts had pointed out that direct discharge to sea was the only long-term solution. However, the government did not carry out the proposal succumbing to vote bank politics. Instead, water from the Parvathi Puthenar was directed into Karamana River under pressure from some anti-social elements who would have been affected by clearing of the direct canals and opening of the estuarine sand bank formations at Edayar and Poonthura.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said that the letting out of the polluted waters from the Parvathi Puthenar increased the pollution of Karamana River, making it impossible to take bath or swim in the Karamana River. This affected devotees visiting the Parasurama temple at Thiruvallom.
He urged that strong protests should be mounted against the inaction and ineptness of the government, that had made flooding of the city a perennial problem.