Shutter bridge at Kannammoola demolished

Demolition of shutter bridge in Kannammoola to prevent flooding in Pattom canal, part of ongoing maintenance work.

A shutter bridge at Kannammoola in the capital, which has been the cause of flooding in these parts during heavy rain, was demolished on Friday as part of the Minor Irrigation department’s ongoing maintenance work in the Pattom canal. The large amount of waste that flows through the canal during rains used to get caught in the shutter bridge, causing floods in the area.

The ongoing work in the Pattom canal, as part of ₹4.83 crore project in the 2021-22 State Budget is currently in the final stages, V.K. Prasanth, MLA, said. The canal, with a width of 8 metres and length of 9 kilometre, passes through Kudappanakkunu, Chettivilakom, Kinavoor, Muttada, Kesavadasapuram, Nanthencode, Pattom, Kunnukuzhy, and Kannammoola, before draining into the Amayizhanjan canal. The ongoing work is concentrated in the downstream section of the canal, for a distance of 4.5 kilometre.

Under the project, desiltation will be carried out, protective walls will be built where it is required and the height of existing walls will be increased. Barriers will be put up in various open areas to prevent waste dumping into the canal. Mr. Prasanth said that with the completion of the project, flooding issues in the areas surrounding the canal will be addressed to an extent.