Minor flooding raises concerns in Kalamassery amid delayed canal renovation project
Kochi: Incessant rains triggered minor flooding in Kalamassery on Sunday morning, with water entering at least five houses on VR Thankappan Road. Though water receded following a break in the downpour, locals remain anxious about the possibility of repeated flooding as monsoon continues.
Athulya K N, a local and schoolteacher, said they face this ordeal every year. "Due to last night's heavy rain, water entered our homes again. Though it has now receded, we are busy cleaning up. This is a recurring issue," she said. She added that during such instances, normal life comes to a standstill, often forcing families to move to relief camps or seek shelter with relatives.
Locals expressed frustration that repeated promises by authorities to address the issue have gone unfulfilled.
A Rs 14.5 crore drainage project under Rebuild Kerala Initiative was approved by state govt last year. The project includes construction of a 1.96km-long canal, Pottachal, considered vital for proper drainage in the area. Although the plan received administrative sanction, no visible progress was made.
Haritha residents' association president V P Siyad blamed the inaction on political differences between Congress-led municipality and LDF-led state govt. "The project is stuck in limbo due to political conflicts. Meanwhile, ordinary people continue to suffer," he said, urging authorities to act without further delay.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
25 minutes ago
- India.com
Wait for census over as Modi government issues 2027 Census notification, J&K and Ladakh will be...,caste data will be...
Census In India- File image New Delhi: In a significant development for the country, the Union Home Ministry led by Amit Shah issued the official notification for conducting the population census in the country. Most importantly, the 2027 Census will include humongous data collection, including the caste details, will be conducted in two phases, where the first phase will cover the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and two hilly states — Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — beginning on October 1, 2026 and the second phase will start on March 1, 2027. Home Ministry notification As per a report carried by IANS news agency, the Home Ministry notification issued under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948 (37 of 1948), said, 'A census of the population shall be undertaken during the year 2027. Reference date for 2027 India Census The report also talks about the reference date of the census will shall be 00.00 hours of March 1, 2027, except for the Union territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 'In respect of the Union territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date shall be 00:00 hours of October 1, 2026,' it added. 2027 Census and Caste Data Notably, this is the first time that caste enumeration will be made part of the mammoth Census exercise. The Centre, in a recent cabinet meeting, had given clearance for caste enumeration in the Census, reasoning that it would enable the Central government to frame policies with better precision and also make it target-oriented. Congress vs BJP on Caste Census The green light for caste-based Census also stirred political fight as the Congress claimed that the Modi government was forced to include its idea of social justice and social empowerment. (With inputs from agencies)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
25 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Making cuts in implementation of MGNREGA crime against Constitution: Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the Modi government is trying to destroy MGNREGA and said making cuts in the implementation of this scheme is a "crime against the Constitution". The Congress president shared on X a media report which claimed that for the first time, the government has capped spending under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) at 60 per cent of its annual allocation for the first half of the financial year 2025-26. In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, "The Modi government is trying to destroy MGNREGA, the lifeline of the poor. The Modi government has now fixed the limit of MGNREGA expenditure at 60% for the first 6 months of the year". Making cuts in the implementation of MGNREGA, which ensures the Right to Work under the Constitution, is a "crime against the Constitution", he said. Posing questions from the Congress' side, Kharge asked whether the Modi government is doing this only because it wants to snatch about Rs 25,000 crore from the pockets of the poor, which it has to spend separately in the next financial year when the demand is high at the end of the year. "Since MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme, what happens if there is a surge in demand during the first half in case of disasters or adverse weather conditions? Will not imposing such a cap hurt the poor who depend on MGNREGA for their livelihood?" Kharge said. What happens if the limit is crossed and will states be forced to deny employment despite demand, or will workers have to work without payment, he asked. Is it not true that according to a recent report, only 7 per cent of families have received the promised 100 days of work, Kharge further asked. "Why were nearly 7 crore registered workers excluded from MGNREGA on the condition of AADHAAR based payment? Why was the MGNREGA budget allocated the least in the total budget in 10 years? Why is the anti-poor Modi government hell-bent on oppressing MGNREGA workers?" he said. The axing of expenditure on MGNREGA is a severe blow inflicted by the Modi government on the lives of every poor, Kharge said, adding the Congress will vehemently oppose this. "We are firm on our two demands -- First, a minimum wage of Rs 400 per day should be fixed for MGNREGA workers. Second, there should be employment for at least 150 days in a year," he said.
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka BJP to hold state-wide protest on June 17 over Bengaluru stampede, demands resignations of CM and Deputy CM
The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to launch a state-wide protest on Tuesday, June 17, demanding accountability from the Congress-led state government for the recent stampede incident in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives. Originally planned for June 13, the protest was deferred to respect the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash, which occurred the same day. Also Read - 'You're a parcel now': Rapido's workaround sparks laughter online after Karnataka bans bike taxis The BJP has intensified its criticism of the Siddaramaiah government, accusing it of gross negligence and demanding the resignation of both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar. The stampede took place during the IPL victory celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, drawing large crowds without sufficient safety measures in place. Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashok, has also written to the Chief Minister, urging him to convene an emergency three-day session of the State Legislature. The objective, he said, is to hold a detailed discussion on the causes of the tragedy and the urgent need to strengthen public safety infrastructure. Also Read - Bengaluru Rapido driver slaps woman after argument in Jayanagar, caught on camera In his letter, Ashok raised serious concerns over lapses in crowd control and the alleged mishandling of the situation by the administration. 'There is growing public anxiety and mistrust regarding the government's post-incident actions. Instead of transparency, we are seeing attempts to shield influential figures while scapegoating lower-level officials,' he stated. Ashok further criticized the existence of multiple probes into the stampede, calling it a tactic to blur accountability and confuse the public. He stressed that the legislature must deliberate on several key points — including improving crowd management at public events, ensuring proper medical treatment and compensation for victims, and setting up mechanisms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
