UDF, LDF spar over adequacy of pre-monsoon works as monsoon rains flood Kochi

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective. First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming. Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day. Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features. DYFI activists stage a protest in front of the Kochi Corporation office against waterlogging in the city on Friday. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat The incessant rain, marking the onset of the monsoon, that left several parts of Kochi city waterlogged, has sparking a tug of war between the United Democratic Front-governed Kochi Corporation and the opposition Left Democratic Front over the effectiveness of pre-monsoon works. Waterlogging was reported near the South railway station, KSRTC bus stand, Kalathiparambu Road, Vivekananda Road, Ravipuram, K.S.N. Menon Road, Kaloor, Pulleppady, and Ernakulam North, among other areas. Palluruthy and Edakochi too were affected. Works Standing Committee chairperson T.K. Asharaf claimed that the impact of pre-monsoon works was evident, as the city was spared the kind of severe flooding usually witnessed. However, LDF parliamentary party leader V.A. Sreejith dismissed the claim, terming it a failure rooted in administrative and official oversight. “Cleaning of small drains is nearly 90% complete, while bigger drains are 75–90% done. The cleaning of five major canals is underway, with progress at about 30–35%. Railways has not cooperated in clearing culverts, so we plan to deploy jet pumps for the task. Five squads equipped with jet pumps have been stationed across Corporation limits to respond to flooding in real time,” Mr. Asharaf said. Mr. Sreejith countered that both the city and West Kochi were equally hit by the rain, which he cited as proof of failed pre-monsoon works. He pointed out that removal of invasive water hyacinth from the Karanakkodam canal began only two days ago, while stretches of the Mullassery canal remain neglected. “The Corporation failed to clean canals and culverts. Though funds were allocated before the model code of conduct for the Assembly election came into force, administrative and official lapses meant pre-monsoon works were not properly monitored. Daily Labour Roll workers have been engaged in flood relief s