KOCHI: The cleaning work of Punchathodu, a stinking canal at Thalikkavattom junction near Ponnurunni overbridge, which was nearing completion came to a standstill. The work was stopped after Ernakulam District Third Class Magistrate issued a stay order.The works of Kochi Corporation which was entrusted with the task of cleaning the canal was going on in full swing when it was hit by the Court order. When asked about the order, Councillor K V Manoj said, “We don’t know the man who filed the petition. We only know that his name is Martin and that he does not belong to the Punchathodu area.”Kochi Corporation Executive Engineer Sahas said that the Court issued a stay order without hearing their explanation. “It happened as we have not filed the caveat petition through which the Court could hear our version. We never expected that somebody would file a petition against the work as most of it is completed. Besides, we also could not get hold of the reasons for filing a petition as the Court’s vacation perio has started,” he said.Meanwhile, Development Standing Committee chairman T J Vinod said that Kochi Corporation will move the vacation bench of the High Court on Monday. The petitioner has lodged a petition against the Kochi Corporation.‘City Express’ had already reported about the pathetic state of canal and the authorities took action to resolve the issue. The Kerala Environment Preservation Forum officials said that cleaning work worth Rs 5 lakh will go awry if the stay order is not lifted. T N Pratapan, president, Kerala Environment Preservation Forum, said that the stay has put an abrupt stop to their eight-year-long efforts. Pratapan also said that it was not an easy task to bring all the authorities together to carry out the task.“Kerala State Electricity Board, Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Kerala Water Authority and other private telephone companies were involved as the problem began eight years ago, when they drew cable lines through the canal,” he said.“Since then, the waste items like plastic bottles which were dumped into the canal got stuck in these cables, blocking the flow of water. This results in waterlogging in Chakkaraparambu, Thammanam Labour Colony, Kuthappadi, Aysha Road and Ponnurunni Road,” Pratapan said.
Comments
0 comment