Corporation plan to harvest rainwater

KOCHI: Corporation authorities are blaming the railways for the problems of waterlogging in Kochi. With upcoming rains, it will soon become an issue. According to corporation engineers, the proposal made by them in 2007 suggested laying a pipe to collect excess rainwater, from the railway station and bus stands, which would eventually lead to a canal. However, it would have to first pass under the railway tracks near the bus stand.Engineer R Sreedevi said,“ It has been almost four years since we have been pushing the railways to provide us the sanction for running the drainage pipe underneath the railway tracks. But yet, nothing has been done. In our letters, we have been continually telling them that this would be the only solution for Kochi and its people who would otherwise have to always worry about flooded roads and mosquito menace. This is the key to a  permanent solution. But unless we receive the sanction, nothing is going to work out.”According to the plan, two 15-metre Sambha wells would be created next to the KSRTC bus stand to collect the rainwater that poses a major threat to people every year. This collected water would be extracted with the help of a pump and with the help of a drainage pipe running under the railway track area, will be diverted towards the Kunjathodu area.Presently, the only pump available there is also not working. However, the railway authorities suggest that there are safety concerns causing them to check every nook and corner of the proposal. If the project is approved, it would require creation of deep holes near the railway tracks which would lead to softening of the soil in that area.Sreedevi said,“ Earlier, our proposal was in such a way that it did not affect the railway tracks. At that time, the railways stated that our plan was not feasible. Now, when it involves railway tracks, they are not even interested.”In a recent meeting regarding the railway issues, K V Thomas,Union Minister of State for Agriculture, assured the corporation authorities to take the initiative to obtain sanction regarding the issue.