Canal rejuvenation under IURWTS likely to ease waterlogging in Kochi
The State government's move to accord in-principle approval for the implementation of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB)-funded Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS) will benefit six canals in Kochi and is expected to bring a lasting solution to the perennial issue of waterlogging faced by the city.
Edappally canal, Perandoor canal, Chilavannoor canal, Thevara canal, Market canal, and Konthuruthy canal will be rejuvenated under the project. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is the special purpose vehicle for the project. While administrative sanction was accorded for an estimated ₹1,528.27 crore initially, it was revised to ₹3,716.10 crore based on a revised proposal submitted by the KMRL project director. The KIIFB will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the estimate proposal of KMRL.
The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has issued wildlife clearance for the IURWTS, subject to the condition that the sub-canal passing through the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary shall be taken up for cleaning during the implementation of the project. Accordingly, the government order gave in-principle approval for including the cleaning of the sub-canal passing through the sanctuary as well in the project.
'The implementation of the project will put an end to Kochi's perennial problems of waterlogging, mosquito menace, and other issues. It will also alter the face of the city in terms of infrastructure, industry, and tourism potential,' said Mayor M. Anilkumar.
According to the revised estimates, ₹532.09 crore has been allocated for canal-oriented development, ₹41.33 crore for the canal-oriented development of Konthuruthy canal, ₹5 crore for the development of Mangalavanam canal, ₹1,386.68 crore for sewage treatment plants and sewer network, and ₹37.05 crore for sanitation and solid waste management. A significant allocation of ₹1,235.70 crore has been made towards land acquisition, which is critical to the project.
Further allocation of ₹28.27 crore has been made for rehabilitation and resettlement, ₹36.47 crore for utility shifting, ₹41.94 crore for specialised works and survey, ₹353.81 crore for establishment charges related to land acquisition, and ₹17.76 crore for project expenses towards capitalisation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
52-day trawling ban from June 9
T'puram: The state cabinet on Thursday decided that the trawling ban off the state's coast will be for 52 days, from June 9 midnight to July 31 midnight. Continuation sanction was given for 688 temporary posts functioning under the land board of the revenue department. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The extension is for one year, from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2025. Two new special deputy tahsildar posts will be created in the revenue department for KSFE. Additionally, 62 temporary posts created for 12 KIIFB land acquisition units will be extended for one more year from Nov 10, 2024. KIIFB will bear the service salary costs. The monthly salary of special public prosecutors in various special courts, including NDPS, SC/ST, Abkari, Pocso, and NIA courts, has been revised from Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 with effect from Jan 1, 2025. The caste name 'Ganika' (listed as the 19th entry in the OBC list of Kerala) will be modified to 'Ganika/Ganiga' based on the recommendation of the state backward classes commission. Approval was granted for CSIR-NIIST to establish a Centre for Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship in the second phase of the KLIP Bio 360 Life Sciences Park at Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram. The Rs 215cr investment plan includes the lease of 10 acres of land for up to 90 years without financial liability. The annual lease rent for 20.7250 acres allotted to Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram was revised to Rs 1 per cent from May 6, 2014, for 30 years. Revised estimate approval was also granted for the mechanical works of the Koottukadavu regulator construction project in Palakkad's Anakkara panchayat. A tender worth Rs 12.68cr was approved for development works at Bedadka taluk hospital, Kasaragod. Bids were cleared for water authority works in the following areas Idukki district (Rs 18.07cr), Chalikavattom and Thammanam areas in Kochi corporation under AMRUT 2.0 (Rs 1.62cr), Chennerkara and Omallur panchayats in Pathanamthitta (Rs 13.33cr), and Kalamassery municipality in Ernakulam (Rs 11.95cr under AMRUT 2.0).
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
KMRL speeds up Srinagar Water Metro feasibility study despite terror attack
KOCHI: The Pahalgam terror attack and the resultant conflagration between India and Pakistan might have shaken the entire Kashmir valley. But authorities have ensured that development activities, including the proposed Srinagar Water Metro, won't suffer a bit. If anything, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) — which the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has entrusted with conducting water metro feasibility studies at 21 centres across the country — has speeded up the study for the Srinagar project. While the terror attack had initially spurred thoughts of 'delay', the authorities grew determined to implement the project at the earliest to pass on the message that such 'cowardly terror acts' cannot stop the nation from marching ahead. A three-member team headed to Srinagar in the third week of May and completed the preliminary study, which prima facie found the project 'feasible' in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. 'We reversed our initial decision and undertook the challenge as we felt such cowardly acts shouldn't come in the way of a region's development activities. In fact, the authorities there are also pushing forward the Srinagar Smart City project,' said Kochi Water Metro chief operating officer (COO) Sajan P John, who led the team. The preliminary study identified routes linking the famous Dal lake and the Jhelum river which passes through the heart of the city. The targeted population was both local residents and tourists. It, however, suggested that only electric boats should be used, given the fragile environment there. KMRL plans to prepare study report by mid-July 'IWAI chairman Vijay Kumar personally arrived there and said they are ready to invest in the project to develop a green urban transport system,' Sajan said. KMRL intends to prepare a detailed preliminary study report by the middle of July. IWAI will then initiate steps to prepare a detailed project report (DPR). KMRL is optimistic it will be entrusted with that work as well, thanks to the successful operation of the Kochi Water Metro.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Landowners to receive compensation next week
T'puram: After years of delay, the pending compensation for landowners who surrendered their property for Kodinada-Vazhimukku stretch of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Road development project is finally set to be disbursed. As many as 52 landowners are expected to receive their dues by next week. Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) approved a compensation package of Rs 104 crore, paving way for the next phase of the road development. The disbursal comes after sustained pressure from locals, public representatives and a renewed push by govt to expedite stalled infrastructure projects. Confirming the development, Parassala MLA C K Hareendran said govt assured that compensation process will be completed without further delay. "I received a clear assurance from the state govt that the compensation amount will be disbursed next week," Hareendran said. "The KIIFB already sanctioned the amount and all procedural steps have been completed. This is a major relief for the landowners," he added. The 1.5km Kodinada to Vazhimukku stretch is a critical segment of the wider Karamana-Kaliyikkavila road development project, which aims to improve connectivity in southern region of the city and decongest the busy NH-66 corridor. With the compensation issue nearing resolution, govt is preparing to float the construction tender for this stretch in July. Officials said the groundwork for tendering has already begun and once compensation reaches the landowners, PWD will initiate the formal process. Karamana-Kaliyikkavila project saw multiple delays since its announcement, mainly due to land acquisition hurdles and fund disbursal bottlenecks. Despite the delay in compensation, demolition work already commenced along the project stretch, starting from Vazhimukku towards Balaramapuram. A contractor based in Kunjalumoodu is currently handling the demolition, with buildings being razed at both the Balaramapuram and Kodinada ends.
