Thevara-Perandoor Canal Clouds Again Amid Suspected Illegal Septage Dumping

### Swift summary:
– Kochi Corporation’s efforts to prevent pollution of the Thevara-Perandoor (TP) Canal, including installing warning boards, have been unsuccessful.
– The canal continues to be polluted by illegal dumping of septage waste and untreated wastewater despite desilting efforts by the Minor Irrigation department.
– Desilting work was conducted on all stretches of the 10.20 km canal at a cost of ₹9.87 crore, with the final stretch near Pulleppady presenting challenges due to narrow width and bridge locations.
– Surveillance cameras have been installed along certain points but failed to curb pollution effectively. monitoring remains inconsistent due to lack of resources for round-the-clock supervision.
– Irrigation department acknowledged that certain embankment issues restricted complete desilting in some stretches. These areas were cleared only between 50 cm and 80 cm instead of the planned depth.
– Kerala High Court has closely monitored canal rejuvenation, but statutory bodies like Pollution Control Board and Kochi Corporation have struggled with enforcement measures or identifying culprits.

—

### Indian Opinion Analysis:
The ongoing pollution in Kochi’s Thevara-Perandoor Canal underscores systemic inefficiencies in environmental management despite significant monetary investment (₹9.87 crore).While significant progress has been made through thorough desilting across most stretches, failure to address illegal waste dumping undermines these efforts and reflects insufficient regulatory enforcement mechanisms. Mayor M. Anilkumar’s assertion about public attitudes signals a deeper societal issue requiring behavioral change campaigns alongside stricter laws.

The technical obstacles faced during desilting-such as embankment collapses-highlight infrastructural deficiencies that complicate remediation projects for waterways prone to tidal flooding like TP Canal. Moving forward, collaboration among civic agencies must prioritize seamless monitoring systems using technology such as surveillance cameras combined with consistent penal measures against violations.

Ultimately, ensuring lasting outcomes will necessitate not just engineering solutions but active civic participation supported by clear governance frameworks.

*Read more: *

—

Images: