The condition of Aamayizhanjanthodu, a canal which used to flow through the heart of Kerala’s state capital, Thiruvananthapuram is just like any other canal or water body in any other developing city in India. What was once a pristine free flowing riverine system, the Aamayizhanjanthodu became a victim of the after effects of urbanisation, after which it became the city’s dumping ground.
Following incessant dumping of plastic and food waste, sanitation waste from nearby houses and discharges from nearby industries, the water which was once free flowing became stagnant over the years, causing severe stench and causing various health issues to residents nearby.
A part of Aamayizhanjanthodu in Vanchiyoor area, Thiruvananthapuram.
Now, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state along with the Thiruvananthapuram corporation have taken it upon themselves to restore the canal as they have started a mammoth cleanliness drive of the canal, which flows through various parts of the city. The cleanliness drive which began on Saturday is part of the government’s pre-monsoon cleanliness drive.
Removing wastes and evacuating encroachments
Speaking to TNM, Anil Kumar, Health Inspector at the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, who is also one of the coordinators of the drive says that they have begun the first phase of the drive by cleaning up the canal region which begins from Rajaji Nagar in Chengalchoola area to the Thampanoor area near the railway station. “This phase of the drive itself costs around Rs 50 lakhs. Right now, we need the use of machine power more than man power because we need to remove the soil and other waste materials which is lying under the water,” says Anil Kumar.
Plastic bottles found from the canal during the cleaning drive. (Facebook/VK Prasanth)
Restoring the Aamayizhanjanthodu will take more than just clearing the waste materials from the canal. One of the reasons why the water has remained stagnant over the years, is the illegal encroachments that has cropped on the banks of the canal in the form of temporary tents, small shops and houses.
The state Devaswom and Tourism Minister, Kadakampally Surendran said that the government has given instructions to the authorities to take necessary measures to ensure that all illegal encroachments along the banks of the canal are vacated in the coming days. “I have given instructions to the State Irrigation Department to conduct a survey on illegal encroachments from the Kannamoola area to the Akkulam area of the canal from Monday onwards,” said Kadakampally Surendran. The Minister has also appointed the village officer to supervise the evacuation activities.
Along with this, the Minister has also said that all the trees and the branches of those trees which are blocking the flow of the water in the canal will be cut off.
The cleanliness drive on Saturday and Sunday witnessed participation from not just the corporation officials but also from various NCC units, volunteers from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the general public living around the canal.
Speaking at the inauguration of the pre-monsoon cleanliness drive of the Aamayizhanjanthodu, Kadakampally Surendran said that when it comes to the field of Health, Kerala is a role model, not just for the country but for the world. He also went on to say that this cleanliness drive ahead of the monsoon is an attempt at preventing the spread of disease that could arise during the rainy season.