Latest news with #OperationBreakthrough
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Poor coordination delays Kochi's pre-monsoon works, raising flood risk as rains arrive early
KOCHI: Though Kochi corporation initiated its pre-monsoon cleaning activities early this year, lack of coordination between departments has delayed the work, posing the threat of waterlogging in the city. The situation is worryingly dire, with the southwest monsoon having made early landfall. On Sunday, district collector N S K Umesh visited National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) work locations and directed the authority, railways, and other departments to complete the dredging of canals and drains. 'The public works department had been entrusted with cleaning the drains in MG Road, Banerjee Road and Shanmugham Road. That work is yet to be completed. In the 2025-26 budget, `10 crore was allocated for Operation Breakthrough. The amount has not been utilised. Moreover, the water authority is yet to remove the old pipes obstructing water flow,' said Manoj Kumar, president of the Merchants Chamber of Commerce. Areas such as Panampilly Nagar, BRM Nagar, Vasanth Nagar, and other areas experienced waterlogging in the past few days. Seena Gokul, chairperson of the public works committee, said pre-monsoon cleaning activities were started early this time, but were delayed due to several reasons. 'We had instances of contractors abandoning work, besides other issues. We have completed desilting and dredging of most of the canals using the suction-cum-jetting machine,' she said. On Friday, the Kerala High Court observed that only 30-50% of the pre-monsoon activities had been completed.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Monsoon preparedness to be stepped up in Ernakulam
The district authorities have initiated steps to complete the pre-monsoon preparedness and prevent waterlogging in the city limits as part of the Operation Breakthrough project. A meeting of the officials of various departments and elected representatives, convened by District Collector N.S.K. Umesh last week, had decided to ensure the time-bound completion of the projects. The meeting reviewed the rejuvenation works in Mullassery canal, Chilavannur canal, Edappally canal, and High Court canal. A decision to step up work in the areas that usually face severe waterlogging was taken at the meeting. The required works at Kammattipadam have been completed, according to officials. Mr. Umesh told the officials to implement measures to avoid waterlogging at the Jos Junction. The district administration suggested immediate completion of the cleaning up of canals within the Kochi Corporation limits. Steps should also be taken to ease the flow in the Vivekananda canal. The meeting had also discussed the waterlogging near Al-Ameen School, Edappally. Minister for Industries P. Rajeeve, who convened an online meeting to discuss the preparedness, suggested convening Assembly constituency-level meetings to review the works initiated. He suggested cutting down trees that pose a danger to the public during heavy rains and strong winds. A strict protocol has to be ensured with regard to the opening of the shutters of various dams, he said. T. K. Ashraf, chairperson of the Kochi Corporation's Standing Committee on Health, said that the decisions taken at the review meetings convened by the district administration and the government will be implemented in a time-bound manner. The cleaning works along the canals and drains will be done as per the schedule, he said.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Restoration of remaining 200 metres of Mullassery canal likely to be taken up after monsoon
The Irrigation department is likely to take up the restoration of the remaining 200-odd metres of the Mullassery canal under Operation Breakthrough only after the monsoon. Of the total 829-metre stretch of the canal, the Irrigation department claims to have completed the restoration of 625 metres. The stretch between Chittoor Road and M.G. Road remains to be restored. 'For now, the priority will be completing the resurfacing of pathways along the restored stretch of the canal before the onset of the monsoon. We are hopeful that the restored portion will help address waterlogging near the Ernakulam KSRTC depot and nearby areas like Karikkamuri as water can be channelled through the Vivekananda canal to the Thevara–Pernandoor canal,' said Irrigation department sources. The restoration of the Mullassery canal has already been inordinately delayed, drawing the Kerala High Court's rebuke on more than one occasion. In February, the High Court had directed the authorities to complete the restoration work within three months, failing which the court would have to summon the District Collector. A meeting chaired by Mayor M. Anilkumar in January and attended by District Collector N.S.K. Umesh had reviewed Operation Breakthrough — a project aimed at resolving inundation in Kochi city — and issued an ultimatum to the Irrigation department to complete the canal restoration by June. The schedule of works up to May was also approved at the meeting, which expressed dissatisfaction over the department's delay in completing the restoration process that had been ongoing for the past three years. Furthermore, a directive was issued to the department to avoid further delay. 'The restoration of the remaining stretch involves the crossing of the M.G. Road. We will also have to coordinate with Kochi Metro Rail Limited to ensure that no damage is caused to the metro pillar along the stretch. Since the usual method of excavation, which requires prolonged road closure, may not be viable on M.G. Road, we may have to explore more sophisticated methods such as precast technology, though a decision will only be taken by the monitoring committee chaired by the Collector. We are also considering cross drains instead of side drains along the stretch as the former would necessitate shifting numerous utilities leading to further delays,' said Irrigation department sources. The department is also revising the estimates as several emergency works required at the site had to be carried out during the course of the project.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Choked by waste, Thevara-Perandoor canal breaches banks; water enters several houses
KOCHI: The delay in cleaning and desilting the Thevara-Perandoor canal has triggered tidal flooding in adjoining areas in recent days. Aquatic weeds, plastic bottles and other waste have accumulated in the canal, spelling trouble for residents. Judges Avenue, Ambedkar Nagar and Panampilly Nagar are among the areas affected. Kaloor South councillor Rajini Mani said water overflowed from the choked Thevara-Perandoor canal and entered several houses in the area. 'We are getting several complaints from the public. The issue needs to be addressed quickly. The polluted water may lead to other health issues,' Rajini said. Earlier, cleaning activities were carried out by Kochi corporation. Now, the irrigation department is handling it under 'Operation Breakthrough'. The 2025-26 state budget had allocated Rs 10 crore for the project. 'The irrigation department has completed the tender proceedings and the collector has arranged a meeting to review the progress of the work,' Mayor M Anilkumar said, adding that the irrigation department has been instructed to complete the desilting work before May 31. However, T Balachandran, an activist, said since the monsoon is set to arrive in a month, the work should be completed at least before May 15. 'The recent rain, which lasted just a few hours, led to tidal flooding in many areas along the canal. If this continues, things will become miserable as monsoon arrives. The waste should be removed and shifted to Brahmapuram as soon as possible,' he said. Rajini said the Karanakodam and other small canals in the area have also not been cleaned, due to which nearby areas experienced waterlogging within a couple of hours of rain. Waste dumped in the canal from eateries, apartment complexes and slaughterhouses is polluting the canal, Balachandran said. 'There are pipe connections from these establishments to the canal. It obstructs water flow. The canal is polluted. Such actions from the public should also be prevented to resolve the issue permanently,' he said. Thevara-Perandoor Canal
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Met Ellen Pompeo for 20 Minutes… Then Wrote a Life-Changing Check!
Taylor Swift is known for her chart-topping hits, sold-out stadium tours, and unmatched songwriting skills. But beyond the music, she's also a total sweetheart with a heart of gold! Recently, Ellen Pompeo, the beloved Grey's Anatomy star, shared a touching story about Taylor's incredible generosity, and it's making Swifties fall in love with her all over again. Ellen Pompeo recently appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show and spilled the sweetest story about Taylor's kindness. The two had only just met when Ellen decided to bring up something close to her heart, a children's charity in desperate need of funds. 'It's a really nice program, but they need money to run it,' Ellen explained. 'So I just… asked Taylor, 'Could you write me a big old check for Children's?' And she knew me all but 20 minutes, and that girl wrote me the biggest check without blinking an eye.' Yes, you read that right! Taylor had only known Ellen for a few minutes before stepping up in a major way. The Grammy-winning superstar didn't hesitate, didn't ask questions, she just gave with her whole heart. The charity Ellen was talking about is a special program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. It focuses on helping parents and their premature babies bond in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The idea is simple but powerful. Parents can record themselves singing lullabies or reading stories, and these recordings are played for their newborns when they can't be there in person. Research has shown that a parent's voice can be incredibly soothing for premature babies, helping with their development and emotional well-being. But running a program like this takes funding, and that's where Taylor's generosity made a huge difference. If you've been following Taylor Swift for a while, you know this is far from the first time she's made a generous donation. She has a long history of giving back, often in the most thoughtful and personal ways. Just a few months ago, in December 2024, Taylor donated a jaw-dropping $250,000 to Operation Breakthrough, a nonprofit organization in Kansas City that helps underprivileged children and families. The donation came as a total surprise, and the kids at the center were so grateful that they even made a heartfelt 'thank you' video for Taylor. Operation Breakthrough later shared that the donation helped brighten the holidays for so many families in need. Taylor doesn't just donate money. She also takes time to make her fans feel seen and loved. When she visited Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, she spent over an hour meeting young patients, bringing smiles and comfort to children battling serious illnesses. One young patient, Naya, had her eyes on a specific outfit Taylor was wearing, a stunning $4,500 plaid Miu Miu set. And guess what? A few weeks later, Taylor sent Naya the exact same outfit, along with a handwritten note just for her! Naya shared the surprise on TikTok, and it was clear how much it meant to her. Taylor Swift has proven time and time again that she's not just an incredible musician. She's an incredible human being. Whether she's donating millions to charities, surprising fans with personal gifts, or helping a friend out with a big check after knowing her for only 20 minutes, she always leads with kindness. Her generosity reminds us that even the biggest stars can have the biggest hearts. And honestly? That's just another reason to love her! The post Taylor Swift Met Ellen Pompeo for 20 Minutes… Then Wrote a Life-Changing Check! appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
