Authorities yet to finish desilting major canals in Kochi

Kochi: Even while monsoon is expected to set in within a week, desilting of major canals in the city is being delayed. Corporation authorities had earlier said that the desilting would begin on April 27.Given the current pace of works, chances are less for completing the work before monsoon. Major canals like Thevara-Perandoor canal, Karanakodam canal and Chilavanoor canal are filled with water hyacinths. "It was due to the summer rains that the work got delayed. However, the work on desilting almost all major canals started on Tuesday," said T K Asharaf, chairman, works standing committee. "There are allegations that the contractors may mix the silt with water and leave it in the canal itself. It will then get sedimented on the bottom of the canal or mouth of the backwaters. That is why we decided not to start the work during the summer rains," he added. According to local body authorities, desilting of small and medium drains and canals has almost been completed. The corporation authorities said that strict instructions have been given to officials and contractors to complete works well before the beginning of monsoon. If the desilting is not completed before that, it will worsen waterlogging in the city. The contractors usually stack the silt removed from the canals on the shores for a few days for drying up. If the silt is not dried up properly, waste will spill all over the roads when it is being transported. If the silt stacked on the shores is not removed before monsoon, it will get washed back into the canals when it rains.