Desilting of TP Canal in Kochi to be completed by mid-July-OxBig News Network

The desilting of the Thevara-Perandoor (TP) Canal by the Minor Irrigation department under Operation Breakthrough is likely to be completed by the middle of this month (July, 2025).

Out of the total 10.2 km of the canal, which is being desilted at a cost of ₹9.87 crore, nearly 1.5 km, between Kaloor and Pulleppady, remains to be covered.

Unlike in the previous years, the desilting and deepening of major canals have been entrusted with the Irrigation department. While previously the Kochi city Corporation carried out the works directly, this time the civic body has assumed a largely supervisory role.

The desilting of the TP Canal was divided into four segments and assigned to separate contractors to ensure that the works were done simultaneously and wrapped up on time.

Taking more time

“We have desilted the stretch up to the Pulleppady bridge on one side and Kaloor on the other side. We have now commenced desilting from both sides. It is taking more time than in other stretches as the canal in this particular stretch is just 6-m wide unlike in other stretches where the width ranges between 10 m and 150 m, and also due to the presence of bridges about every 50 m or so unlike every 300 m or more elsewhere. This means that we have to deploy cranes to load and offload pontoon excavators at frequent intervals,” said Irrigation department sources.

As per the department’s guidelines, a waterbody once desilted need not be desilted again for another three years. “But unlike rivers with constant flow, the TP Canal is prone to tidal flooding and the flow of water in both directions means that it may get polluted faster than usual. Hence, the canal may have to be desilted, at least up to a depth of 10-20 cm next year as well. This time, we had to desilt as deep as 1.5 m to 2 m in many stretches like the Link Avenue Road and Nivya Road near Kaloor,” said sources.