Parvathy Puthanar return to the glory days

The Chief Minister with Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran reviews the progress of the works – (Photo Courtesy – Hindu)

The man-made Parvathy-Puthanar canal, created in the 18th and 19th centuries as a water route linking Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam and beyond, has been covered with weeds and debris and become a dirt canal. As per the decision of the cabinet to re-establish the canal to make it navigable, cleaning works are in progress in the canal. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has visited the work site on 5th July 2018 to monitor the progress of the works in Thiruvananthapuram area. Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran accompanied him.

Parvathy Puthanar is a major part of the proposed national waterway, connecting different rivers and water bodies starting from Kovalam to Hosdurg. The cleaning process has already been started since April this year. It is after 53 years, a comprehensive programme to make the canal navigable is underway. Along with this, cleaning of Canoli canal in Kozhikkodu and a 26 meter new canal connecting Mahi and Valapattanam rivers will take place in the first phase of the works. The first phase is expected complete by May 2020.

Removing the weeds and debris, reinstating the flow of water are the works taking place now. For these purpose equipments like shredders, amphibian cleaning machines are made available. Currently waste water from the surroundings is flowing to the canal. Practical measures will be taken to resolve this issue. Works to deepen the canal will start in October. Silt pusher from Holland will be brought for this purpose.

Once the cleaning of Parvathy Puthanar is completed, two tunnels in Varkala on the way will be cleaned. Two more tunnels will be constructed in the next phase.

A passenger boat passing through Parvathy Puthanar near Varkala Tunnel – File Photo

Construction of boat jetties, establishment of tourism villages etc will be taken place in the forthcoming phases.

Connecting the waterways to the cities and the nearby airports is also in plan. Parvathy Puthanar is passing through the vicinity of Thiruvananthapuram Airport. A plan to connect the Chenkal canal passing adjacent to Kochi airport to the city is in pipeline. In Thrissur, canal connecting to the national waterway will be constructed in Vanjikkulam area.

Implementation of the project is carried out by Kerala Waterways and Infrastructure Ltd (KWIL), a company formed jointly by the State Government and Cochin Airport Limited, under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.