The rejuvenation of the 18.5-km stretch of the waterway from Kovalam to Akkulam that includes the Parvathy Puthanar is in full swing as part of making the 633-km West Coast Canal (WCC), the main arterial waterway in the State, navigable.
Cleaning of the Vallakadavu-Muttathara and Muttathara-Poonthura stretches of the Parvathy Puthanar is on simultaneously under the supervision of the Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department for the newly formed Special Purpose Vehicle, Kerala Waterways and Infrastructure Development Ltd (KWIL).
Using aquatic weed cutter and shredder, water hyacinth and weeds are being removed on the two stretches. The clearing of the canal is the first work of the KWIL since it was formed for the development of inland waterways.
The works are being carried out using ₹150 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). Now, of the 74.18-km waterway from Kovalam to Kollam, only 27.5 km are navigable and 11.3 km partially navigable.
Apart from dredging and cleaning, three new bridges including those at Vallakadavu and Puthenpalam, and reconstruction of all cross structures with dimensions lower than 5 m horizontal clearance and 3.7 m vertical clearance will be taken up. Hydraulic bridges have been proposed at Puthenpalam, Karikkakom, and Panathura.
Rehabilitation of families who have encroached upon the canal and laying of sewage lines and linking them to the sewage treatment plant at Muttathara will be taken up subsequently in a phased manner.
The developed waterway will be 40 m wide and initially turbulence-less boats that can move at a depth of 4 m will be deployed. Indigenously developed solar boats that can ferry 25 to 30 persons at a time will be launched on pilot basis on the stretch, sources said.
As many as 1,500 families have to be rehabilitated on the stretch as per a survey by the district administration. Houses will be provided to them under the Life Mission of the government.
The works are part of the ₹2,300-crore project to make the WCC from Kovalam to Kasaragod navigable by May 2020 with National Waterway (NW) specifications.