The Kochi corporation council is poised to make a crucial decision this Tuesday regarding the long-pending rehabilitation of families living along the precarious shores of the Konthuruthy canal. This council meeting aims to finalise a plan based on proposals drafted in a recent chief secretary-level meeting, bringing a glimmer of hope to residents who have awaited action for years.
Background: A High Court Mandate and Delayed Action
The issue traces back to a 2020 Kerala High Court order that directed the district administration and the Kochi corporation to take steps for rehabilitating those residing on the canal's banks. Despite this clear directive, the local body failed to implement effective measures. The court had specifically identified 129 families for rehabilitation, a number that has remained central to all discussions.
With the corporation's inaction, a meeting convened by the chief secretary recently became necessary to draft a fresh proposal. The core challenge has been financial. An earlier corporation-designed resettlement project proposed providing Rs 14 lakh to each affected family. However, the state government clarified it could only contribute Rs 9.25 lakh per family. This amount is split into Rs 5.25 lakh for land purchase and Rs 4.00 lakh for house construction within the corporation limits.
The Financial Hurdle and Resident Demands
This funding gap leaves a significant shortfall. The corporation must now mobilise the remaining Rs 4.75 lakh per family on its own. Cumulatively, this means the local body needs to find a total of approximately Rs 6 crore to make the rehabilitation project viable.
The residents, who have lived in small huts on both banks of the canal for over 45 years, have expressed urgent demands. They want the government to take immediate action to implement the court order and provide promised rehabilitation or compensation. Furthermore, they are advocating for the Konthuruthy canal renovation to be prioritised under the ongoing canal modernisation project, which is being implemented with KIFBI funding.
The State of the Canal and Living Conditions
The plight of the residents is intertwined with the canal's degraded state. Historically, the Konthuruthy canal, which flows through the Konthuruthy-Thevara region, had a generous width of up to 48 metres. Decades of encroachment and the construction of homes have drastically reduced this width to a mere 3-4 metres in some areas, severely affecting its drainage capacity.
The living conditions for the families are dire. They face constant difficulties due to the poor structural condition of their homes and persistent waterlogging. Compounding their misery is a state of limbo; they have been unable to repair their damaged houses because they live under the constant threat of eviction, bound by the pending rehabilitation order.
Tuesday's council meeting, therefore, carries the weight of a four-year-old judicial directive and the immediate welfare of 129 families. The decision taken will determine whether these residents finally see a path to safer, permanent homes or face further uncertainty.
