Revival on cards: Over 10,000 dying waterbodies mapped

Thiruvananthapuram: More than 10,000 waterbodies, including streams, canals and ponds, in various parts of the district have been mapped for renovation projects being prepared by department of minor irrigation.
Seventy-three assistant engineers were deployed in panchayats across the district to identify abandoned, dying waterbodies. The collected data have been uploaded on GIS platform with the assistance of Kerala State Land Use Board.

“Transit walk was conducted in all panchayats. We consulted with politicians, local body representatives and residents to identify ponds and canals that were levelled or turned to waste dump yards,” said minor irrigation department executive engineer Maju Balakrishnan, who is also the convenor of the project.

The massive exercise, which was done over the past one year, was initiated following the worst drought that hit the capital recently. Waterbodies measuring 0.5 cents to 10 acres were included in the initiative, which was carried out in association with Haritha Keralam Mission.

Master plans have been prepared for waterbodies in all panchayats but two. Block-wise master plans have also been prepared. “The data now available on GIS platform act as a directory on waterbodies in the district. Of the over 10,000 waterbodies, 6,000 are ponds,” said Balakrishnan.

The major purposes of the project include pollution abatement, irrigation, etc. The directory will be used as a reference guide for future projects. Some of the works planned earlier are set for implementation.

The state government has given administrative sanction under Haritha Keralam component for eight projects in the district. The first set of works include renovation of Vazhvelichira in Pulimath panchayat, Kundrani chira and allied works in Kattaikonam ward of city corporation, construction of Methykulam and allied works for improvement of Peringamala paddy fields in Peringamala panchayat, urgent maintenance of Poochedikulam in Neduthottam ward in Parassala panchayat and maintenance at Kaithakulam and Thoppukulam in Balaramapuram panchayat. These projects shall be executed at a cost of Rs 1.19 crore.

Three other projects that were given administrative sanction include renovation of Thiruvattor Katuchira in Nagaroor panchayat, construction of checkdams in four places near Kaniyambvilakam bridge, Mechra bridge, Elanjimoode culvert and Anthiyoorkonam bridge in Mechrathodu in Kattakada panchayat, renovation of Udappukulam in Keezhathottam ward and improving irrigation facilities of Kuzhinjavila Ela in Parassala panchayat.