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Cannoli Canal cleaning begins in Ponnani

Malappuram: In a major move to revive the Cannoli Canal, the cleaning and dredging process of the canal was started in Ponnani region.

It was a long pending demand to clean the canal by removing the tons of waste materials deposited in the canal and to make the waterbody, which connects Ponnani with Kozhikode region, usable for the water transport facilities.



The overflowing canal had submerged many low-lying areas in Ponnani region during the recent flood. Environmentalists pointed out that the clogging of the canal due to accumulation of plastic and other waste materials over the years had caused the overflowing and flood in turn.

The work was started following the frequent demand from the part of MLAs who represent various assembly constituencies in coastal areas.

Recently chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had informed the assembly that government has prepared a detailed action plan for the cleaning and dredging works of the canal. He had also informed that the pollution control board has been directed to prepare an action plan.

The move was in the backdrop of the complaint that the accumulation of waste materials posed a major threat to the hundreds of lives on the banks of canal. Local MLA of Tanur, V Abdurahman had raised the issue in assembly and demanded the government to take a proper step to resolve the issue.

Recently, a study on the pollution level of canal water was conducted using robotic technology. The study which was conducted as part of the ‘Clean Canoly’ project, had found that the pollution level of the canal water was serious and that the contaminated water will cause various diseases. The study report had warned that the issue would seriously affect the quality of water of drinking water sources in near the canal.

Abdurahman said that the ongoing cleaning process is aiming at a permanent solution for the pollution issues related to the canal water. “Government is planning to permanently resolve the issue and protect the canal as a major water body. Though there were efforts to clean the canal earlier, the projects were implemented as a temporary solution. But now we are planning a complete revival of the canal as a long-term project”, he said.

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