KOCHI: Finally, the much-awaited Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS) project that envisages the regeneration of six once-navigable canals in the city is going to be rolled out.
Proclaiming the commencement of the project works, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), the implementing agency, will award the works of cleaning and dredging of Market Canal next week. The formal launch of the project would be held only after receiving final clearance from MoEFCC in the coming weeks.
The IURWTS project funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is expected to bring a major infrastructure development to the city as it is aiming to regenerate six canals — Edappally Canal, Market Canal, Thevara Canal, Perandoor Canal, Chilavannoor Canal and Konthuruthy Canal. The once-navigable canals are now in a state of ruin mainly due to the illegal encroachments and dumping of waste. The project mainly aims to reclaim the canal edge as public asset, improve its spatial structure and to develop canal network for inland navigation, tourism and recreational purposes. It is also expected that the development of major canals would help resolve the long pending issues of flooding in the city during monsoon.
KMRL will give priority to the regeneration of Edappally Canal (11.15km) and Market Canal (.66km). The illegal encroachments along the canals would be cleared and the widened canals would be used to strengthen the existing public transport system. As per the proposals, the developed canals will have well designed embankments, light systems, walkways, etc. Reconstruction of roads along the canals, construction of jetties, construction of foot overbridges, canal beautification with landscaping and promenade development, construction of road bridges in the project area, canal cleaning, deepening and widening works, canal shore protection, etc. would be part of the project. Non-motorized transport and last-mile connectivity would be another attraction of the project.
Recently, the high court had directed the Kochi corporation to file a report regarding the steps taken for maintaining the Perandoor Canal to ensure free flow of water through it, while considering a case related to the prevention of flooding in the city. The Konthuruthi Canal is also facing a similar issue of rampant encroachment. Based on the high court verdict the authorities had recently initiated the eviction of families living along the canal region. The canal which had an original width of 48m has been rampantly encroached over the years and at certain points, it is not more than five metres.
Last year National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked its committee to prepare a factual and action taken report on the alarming level of faecal contamination in Perandoor and Edappally Canals.
T J Vinod, MLA, said that the project is expected to bring a major change in the city as it will prevent flooding in the city along with cleaning canals and developing them for water transport. “The development of Market Canal alone will not bring a major change. But other major canals also should be developed soon under the project,” he said.
It was two years ago that the government entrusted KMRL with the responsibility of implementing the IUWRTS project. The proposal was submitted to Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) in February 2021.
A revised DPR of the project was submitted to KCZMA in January and the authority has already recommended the project to MoEFCC for final clearance and it is expected that ministry would grant clearance soon.
KMRL MD Loknath Behera had said that the project will enrich the lives of the people of Kochi. “With the cooperation of Kerala Water Authority, the most modern and sophisticated sewerage treatment plant (STP) and sewage system will be brought to Kochi,” Behera had said.
President of Ernakulam Development Council K S Dileep Kumar said that government should ensure the smooth execution of IURWTS project in a time-bound manner as crores of rupees have already been spent on the development of canals in city during past many decades. “There should not be any political intervention while clearing the encroachments. Strong steps should be taken to prevent the illegal discharge of sewage water into canals,” he said.
