Residents in Chittatukara panchayat near North Paravur have raised widespread complaints that private individuals are filling local drainage channels with soil in areas affected by National Highway 66 construction, raising concerns about worsening waterlogging during rain.
According to a report by Madhyamam, several small channels in the panchayat have been disrupted after the highway project divided them at multiple locations. Residents are seeking measures to connect the smaller drains on both sides of the highway to larger waterways so that stormwater can be discharged and flooding can be reduced.
Local residents allege that a channel at Machamthuruth is being filled with earth and gravel to create access from private land to the highway service road. The allegation has not been independently verified in the supplied report.
The complaints come as drainage problems are already being reported near the existing highway. The main channel at Munambam Junction is said to be clogged with waste, while waterlogging becomes severe near the present National Highway and in the Neendoor area when it rains.
The situation highlights the importance of maintaining cross-drainage links when major road projects cut across existing local waterways. Small canals and roadside drains often carry rainwater away from settlements, and interruptions to their flow can leave nearby roads and properties vulnerable to standing water.
Residents have called for the affected minor channels to be restored and connected to the main drainage network. The report does not provide details of any official inspection, enforcement action or timeline for clearing the alleged obstructions. The next steps will depend on the response of the local authorities and agencies responsible for drainage and highway construction in the area.
