The devastating floods have taken a toll on Ernakulam’s sanitation infrastructure.
As many as 4,764 household toilets and nearly 83 institutional or public toilets have been identified as dysfunctional or completely damaged in the deluge, according to the official data presented before the high-level team of officials from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank that visited Ernakulam recently.
The rushing waters damaged 8,249 household toilets while 280 institutional or public toilets need to be repaired.
About 2.12 lakh houses had to be cleaned following the debris left by the floodwaters.
Over 80,000 wells were contaminated in the affected regions. Cleaning of wells was progressing in many areas in the district. Nearly 90% of the process has been complete.
The floods took a toll on livestock farmers. The assessment made by the government authorities showed that 2,691 carcasses of big animals were buried scientifically. The corresponding number of small animals was 2,462. About 1.4 lakh birds were killed in the floods.
About 8,200 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste was collected from the 33 flood-hit local bodies and transported to Brahmapuram. For secured landfill, 950 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste was transported to Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited’s landfill at Ambalamedu, Kalamassery and Edayar while 600 tonnes were transported to a private company for recycling.
As per official estimates, more than 8,000 volunteers and 2,200 police personnel took part in the massive clean-up drive in Ernakulam. Nearly 300 technical volunteers were deployed to repair electronic goods.
Over 250 ITI students from Kannur, Malappuram, and Ernakulam visited hundreds of homes in the flood-ravaged areas to carry out electrical and plumbing works.