KOCHI: With reports of cracks in sidewalls of the Rameswaram Canal in West Kochi making the rounds, the Irrigation Department has said it had carried out repair works during the cleaning of the canal recently.The department, however, said it would inspect the development of cracks, if any, in the walls that were built several years ago.“The walls are made of granite stones without using cement. We recently repaired those stretches from where stones were coming off,” Executive Engineer Rajendra Kumar said. He expressed satisfaction over the manner in which the cleaning operation was carried out. The clean-up has helped in flushing out mosquito larvae. Fishes like pearl spot (Karimeen) had begun venturing into the canal in search of mosquito larvae.Philip Chandy, an activist working for the cleaning of the canal for the past few years, praised the department for doing the work in an efficient manner, but expressed concern over the cracks that have appeared near Athikarivalappu.Chandy, under whose initiative the Ombudsman of Local Self Government Institutions gave direction for the cleaning of the canal, said it had to be verified whether there were more such cracks in the sidewalls. He said the clean-up operation this time was satisfying compared to the previous times, as feeder canals, too, were de-silted.However, Chandy said the clean-up in the section extending from Mantra Bridge to Cochin College was not proper. The pressure of water flow in this section was minimal and hence, dredging should be done properly.Meanwhile, the department claimed that work on the cleaning of the canal was over before the onset of monsoon. The department expressed concern over some house releasing their septic tank waste into the canal. Chandy said the canal, which opens at Thoppumpady, connects backwater to the sea and prevents inundation.
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