Mullassery canal revival project delay leaves residents anxious

Minor irrigation dept declares that work will not be completed before this year's monsoon

- MANISHA V C S @Kochi

PEOPLE living along the banks of the Mullassery canal are increasingly frustrated as authorities continue to delay deepening and widening work under Operation Breakthrough. Despite a High Court order in February mandating completion of the project by monsoon this year, the pace of work remains sluggish. Now, with monsoon looming, residents in areas around MG Road, Karikkamuri, Chinmayananda Road, and the north-south corridor are bracing for the worst.

"Every monsoon since 2019 has seen the entire locality getting flooded. Knee-deep water enters my house every time. The roads get waterlogged. The project was received with great anticipation by residents, but we continue to be blindsided by authorities. People are now concerned about the future of the project," said T Ravindran, member of the executive committee of the Karikkamuri residents association.