KMRL to undertake cleaning of Thevara-Perandoor

KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd  (KMRL) will undertake the pre-monsoon cleaning of the Thevara-Perandoor canal. A decision in this regard was taken at the Kochi Metro coordination meeting  convened in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. It was Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who instructed the KMRL to undertake the work as per the request by Mayor Tony Chammany. The expected cost for the cleaning is estimated at `1.5 crore. The KMRL is expected to start the tender procedures by April for the cleaning of the canal.The move will be a blessing to the corporation which is reeling under financial crunch. Earlier, the KMRL had completed the repair work of major roads in the city as part of the proposed Kochi Metro Rail project. Earlier, the Water Resources Minister had said that the Irrigation Department would undertake the cleaning of seven major canals and make them navigable.  These include the Thevara-Perandoor, Karanakodam, Pandarachal, Edapally, Pashnithodu, Pallichal and Changadampokku canals. But so far the Irrigation Department has not taken any steps to start the cleaning. And  with the monsoon expected to arrive within two months, the corporation is in a difficult situation considering the huge cost involved in cleaning the canals.