UDF, LDF spar over adequacy of pre-monsoon works as monsoon rains flood Kochi

The incessant rain, marking the onset of the monsoon, that left several parts of Kochi city waterlogged, has sparking a tug of war between the United Democratic Front-governed Kochi Corporation and the opposition Left Democratic Front over the effectiveness of pre-monsoon works.

Waterlogging was reported near the South railway station, KSRTC bus stand, Kalathiparambu Road, Vivekananda Road, Ravipuram, K.S.N. Menon Road, Kaloor, Pulleppady, and Ernakulam North, among other areas. Palluruthy and Edakochi too were affected.

Works Standing Committee chairperson T.K. Asharaf claimed that the impact of pre-monsoon works was evident, as the city was spared the kind of severe flooding usually witnessed. However, LDF parliamentary party leader V.A. Sreejith dismissed the claim, terming it a failure rooted in administrative and official oversight.

“Cleaning of small drains is nearly 90% complete, while bigger drains are 75–90% done. The cleaning of five major canals is underway, with progress at about 30–35%. Railways has not cooperated in clearing culverts, so we plan to deploy jet pumps for the task. Five squads equipped with jet pumps have been stationed across Corporation limits to respond to flooding in real time,” Mr. Asharaf said.

Mr. Sreejith countered that both the city and West Kochi were equally hit by the rain, which he cited as proof of failed pre-monsoon works. He pointed out that removal of invasive water hyacinth from the Karanakkodam canal began only two days ago, while stretches of the Mullassery canal remain neglected.

“The Corporation failed to clean canals and culverts. Though funds were allocated before the model code of conduct for the Assembly election came into force, administrative and official lapses meant pre-monsoon works were not properly monitored. Daily Labour Roll workers have been engaged in flood relief squads to unclog drains, effectively absolving contractors of responsibility and enabling them to present bills post-monsoon without fulfilling their work,” he alleged.

Mayor V.K. Minimol said Kochi Metro Rail Limited has been directed to complete works along the construction site of the metro’s second phase and restore the drains at the earliest. The agency has also been asked to repair the road along the stretch, she added.

A.R. Dayanand, general secretary of the Kakkanad chapter of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, lamented that the slow pace of metro work, coupled with sluggish traffic and poor road conditions along the stretch between the collectorate signal junction and Irumpanam, Padamugal, and Palarivattom, was proving disastrous for traders. “By the time metro work is completed, half the traders along the stretch may be forced to shut shop,” he said.

Ernakulam South division councillor K.V.P. Krishnakumar noted that waterlogging in his division has been a perennial issue owing to limited drainage outlets. “Water collected in the area must flow through the Vivekananda Canal to the Mullassery Canal and eventually to the backwaters. In the absence of natural flow, a ‘petti and para’ (a de-watering method) has been installed at the eastern end of the Mullassery Canal to pump water into the backwaters. Geographically, the slope towards the eastern side of Chittoor Road leads to waterlogging in those areas. Earlier, water drained through a railway culvert along Kammattypadam into the canal beside GCDA, but those outlets have vanished due to encroachment,” he said.

Mr. Krishnakumar added that creating multiple outlets to drain water from near the South railway station directly into the backwaters via Jos Junction and MG Road would provide significant relief from waterlogging in the area.