The Irrigation Department has invited new tenders for the demolition of the earthen embankment in the middle of the Vembanad backwaters, a prerequisite for commissioning the third phase of the Thanneermukkom bund. Officials said here on Tuesday that they hoped to complete the demolition of the earthen bund on the southern side before the onset of the southwest monsoon. Last year, faced with criticism during the floods over the delay in commissioning the project, the State government directed the Irrigation Department to demolish the embankment. The third phase of construction, which commenced in September 2014, will replace the embankment in the middle by 28 steel shutters. Officials said the project was almost complete but commissioning of the third phase depended on the demolition of the earthen bund.

Source: The Hindu May 14, 2019 12:33 UTC