Anchuthengu-Nadayara waterway project gets nod.

Technical sanction has been accorded to the development and revival of the historic waterway from Anchuthengu Kayal to Nadayara Kayal, and the revival of two tunnels at Varkala and Reach II from Thazhevettoor to Ramanthalay at a cost of Rs.19 crore. With this, the efforts to make the 722-metre Sivagiri tunnel, the 350-metre Chilakoor tunnel, and the 12.7-km waterways navigable have brightened again.

Technical nod has been given after the technical sanction committee convened by the Additional Chief Secretary (Water Resources, Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation) recommended the proposal submitted by the Chief Engineer (Irrigation and Administration) in August and September.

Official sources told The Hindu that orders to this effect had been issued by the Department of Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation and the expenditure would be met from the Plan funds.

The tunnels and the 12.7-km waterways are part of the 60.5-km Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam section of the T.S. Canal.

The adjacent Kollam-Kottapuram stretch of the West Coast Canal has been declared as National Waterway III and is ready for commissioning.

Dredging, widening, and reinforcement work were proposed to make the stretch navigable and extend the National Waterway III up to Kovalam.

A sum of Rs.27.5 crore was sanctioned in August last year and administrative sanction was given.

Hindu