Despite the capital city being relatively free from extreme rainfall events, compared to other parts of the State, it continues to witness flooding at regular intervals owing to the poor management of sewerage systems and stormwater drains, unscientific constructions, and the absence of effective water drainage outlets to the sea.
Once again, a 149-mm overnight rain threw life out of gear in some parts of the city on Thursday, exposing its vulnerability. The heavy rain caused waterlogging at Murinjapalam, Cosmo Hospital premises, Kuzhivayal, Kottara, Gowreesapattom, Thekkumoodu Bund colony, EMS Nagar, Kulathoor, and so on. Many houses were flooded in these areas, displacing many. Officegoers and students had to navigate the overflowing waters in many places in the morning to reach offices and schools. This is the second time in a gap of a month that the city witnessed severe waterlogging.
Despite being the nerve-centre of power in the State, the city lacks a proper drainage master plan to drain the run-off water from urban areas to the sea. Though the city implemented ‘Operation Anantha’ as part of an urban flood mitigation programme, the project fell short of its objectives with political administration yielding to the pressures of a local community within the project area which objected to the construction of breakwater at Veli, the major component of the project.
