Kerala High Court Directs State To Inform Steps Taken To Complete Revival Of Mullassery Canal

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Special Government Pleader to inform the court about the steps taken at the behest of the Secretary of the Water Department to complete the revival of Mullassery Canal, including the manner in which the work has to be completed and the additional funds required for the same. 

Justice Devan Ramachandran opined that any delay in the completion of the canal work would create immeasurable trouble for the citizens, more so because of the fact that the KSRTC bus stand is nearby.

Rejuvenation of the Mullassery canal is being done under the third phase of Operation Breakthrough. However, the intermittent monsoon showers and the delay in removing the pipelines along the Mullassery canal have halted the restoration work. The removal of the pipelines is necessary for restoring the original width of the canal. The court had previously asked the agencies concerned to ensure that the pipes were removed.

Relating to the prevention of flooding in the city, the court remarked that once the work is completed, the water from the Mullassery canal will flow towards the west. Currently, it is following towards the Perandoor canal. Therefore, the Perandoor canal cannot be taken care of unless the water flows back into the west. However, there have been some changes. Apart from the flash flood, there haven't been any floods this year and the year before that has been even better. 

Advocate V.V Joshi, standing counsel for KWA, had submitted that there was no tender to break up the work of relocating the pipes from the Mullassery canal.

The Senior Government Pleader submitted that the government has taken up the issue very seriously, and a meeting was convened under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Water Resources, which also had the Managing Director of the Kerala Water Authority in attendance. The government has asked for a revised estimate to be placed before it on 14 July 2022, and a decision will be taken to pursue it if it requires additional funds, which will be found through appropriate sources, including contributions by the government if so warranted.

The court, while adjourning the matter to 18 July 2022, has directed the Special Government Pleader to inform the court about the steps taken at the behest of the secretary of the water department, including the manner in which the work has to be completed and the additional funds required for the same and also to make available the copy of revised estimate so that the court will be in a position to oversee the work of the Mullassery canal.