With Southwest monsoon around the corner, the district administration and Irrigation Department have sprung into action to ensure smooth flow of water through Thanneermukkom Bund and Thottappally Spillway.
Earlier this month, a high-level meeting convened by Water Resources Minister K. Krishnankutty proposed a host of measures to be taken before the onset of monsoon season.
Officials said that the earthen embankment in the middle of backwaters at Thanneermukkom would be demolished immediately.
In regard to the Thottappally spillway, measures are afoot to remove sandbar at the estuary. Sources said that as decided at the high-level meeting, casuarina trees close to the estuary would be felled. The decision was based on an observation that the trees were impeding water flow from the Kuttanad region.
Further, the meeting also decided to invite expression of interest for deepening Thottappally leading channel to ensure smooth flow of water from Kuttanad region and to go ahead with the planned removal of mineral-rich sand from the estuary. The Irrigation Department will sell the sand to the Indian Rare Earths (IRE)/Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd.