Modernising Water Transport In Alappuzha Town Canals – Phase I
Alappuzha has the inherent advantage of canals and backwaters. The Alappuzha town canal system operating at both ends in to the backwaters run as the two prolonged entry of the town which once provided excellent facilities for transport of goods into and out of the town to inland waterways. The canals of Alappuzha Town are blocked at several locations due to slit accumulation and waste dumping. Hence for making water transport facilities through the canal network, canal need to be cleaned and desilted. Initially it was planned a scheme for drawl of sea water in the canal system. During the meetings, the people are apprehended about the result as claimed by the consultants who studied the canal. The farmers cultivating rice in the eastern part of the town apprehended the damages that may occur to their crops due to the intrusion of salt water. Also the maintenance cost of the system will be a major concern.
Hence during the meeting of Ministers and officials, it was decided not to carry out the works connected with the drawl of sea-water instead, it was decided to carry out the cleaning work of the canals and removal of bunds and other obstructions for the improvement of the water quality throughout the canal network.The details of worksin the 1st phase include:
- The project costs 42.85Crores executed through Irrigation Sub Division Alappuzha under the SPV Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation (KIIDC) Ltd funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board(KIIFB).
- Cleaning, Deepening and strengthening the banks of canal after dewatering by constructing temporary bunds at regular intervals across 9 major canals and 2 sub-canals(23.00 km) namely Vadai canal, Commercial Canal, East Junction Canal, West Junction Canal, Murinjapuzha Canal, Uppotti Canal, KottaramThodu, Ambalappuzha Canal, A.S Canal, KavilThodu(Sub canal), ShadamaniThodu(Sub canal). The removed slush is transported to Kuttanad area for strengthening the outer bunds of ‘padashekarams’ and to use as fertilizers.
- Demolition of earthen bunds across A.S canal and replace it with box culverts(9 nos.) near Vellapady, Poonkavu, Mattathil, Rural, Valiya-Kalavoor, Bernadu, Ambanakulangara, Aryad Block and Devi wires for the uninterrupted water transportation facilities.
- Strengthening of banks of A.S canal and sub-canal using coir geo-textiles.