Industries Minister P. Rajeeve has said that dredging the Vembanad backwaters to deepen the waterbody and prevent tidal flooding in several parts of the district will be expedited.
A meeting of the State authorities and the Cochin Port Authority (CPA) will be convened to discuss the matter, and a district-level coordination facility will be set up to oversee the works.
A communication issued here on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) said that a decision was taken at an online meeting called by the Minister to remove sediments and deepen the waterbody in view of tidal flooding.
The communication said that the meeting discussed short- and long-term measures to prevent flooding. Funds from various local bodies will be pooled for the activities. The Director of the Department of Local Administration has been assigned to coordinate them.
At the same time, discussions will be held with the CPA to complete the dredging of the backwaters. A special meeting will also be convened for this purpose. A discussion will be held with the National Highways Authority of India to utilise the dredged sand from the backwaters for construction, the communication added.
The dredged materials may also be used to aid beach accretion in Chellanam along the tetrapod walls recently installed on a section of the coast.
A proposal for a flood prevention programme linked to climate change will be submitted to the Union government for support. It has also been suggested that the Department of Irrigation complete work on sluices, costing up to ₹5 crore. A coordination panel will be set up with departments such as the Fisheries, Irrigation, Local Administration, Goshree Islands Development Authority, and the Kerala Water Authority.
At the same time, the government will consider providing compensation for damaged houses, with tehsildars and village officers entrusted with the task.
Published – March 06, 2025 12:35 am IST