Kochi flood risk rises as monsoon arrives early
Kochi finds itself unprepared once again, with critical pre-monsoon infrastructure works still incomplete. Despite a promising early start to cleaning operations this year.
poor coordination among departments has left large portions of the city vulnerable to flooding—a recurring urban hazard that reflects deeper issues in municipal governance and disaster preparedness.
The situation took a grim turn over the weekend, with heavy downpours already triggering waterlogging in low-lying neighbourhoods such as Panampilly Nagar, BRM Nagar, and Vasanth Nagar. With key stormwater drains and canals still clogged with debris, the early monsoon’s arrival has exposed gaps in civic planning, administrative execution, and inter-agency accountability.On Sunday, district collector N S K Umesh conducted an on-ground inspection of areas under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), urging urgent action from departments including the water authority, public works department (PWD), and railways to expedite desilting and dredging activities.
Sources reveal that the PWD—tasked with clearing drains along MG Road, Banerjee Road and Shanmugham Road—has not completed its assignments. In fact, a ₹10 crore allocation made under the 2025–26 budget for the much-publicised ‘Operation Breakthrough’ remains unutilised. Adding to the inertia is the Kerala Water Authority’s delay in removing outdated pipelines that block effective drainage, a lapse that severely affects rainwater runoff in several core zones of the city.Speaking to business community representatives, Manoj Kumar, president of the Merchants Chamber of Commerce, criticised the administrative paralysis: “It is unacceptable that despite having funds, vital areas continue to flood year after year. Unremoved pipelines and uncleaned drains have become chronic issues that hurt commerce, mobility, and public safety.”
Chairperson of the public works committee, Seena Gokul, acknowledged the delays, attributing them to a mix of bureaucratic lag and abandonment of contracts by private cleaning contractors. “Despite these challenges, we’ve managed to dredge most of the canals using suction-cum-jetting machines,” she said, adding that efforts were being ramped up following high court scrutiny.However, the Kerala High Court on Friday highlighted that only 30–50% of pre-monsoon preparedness work had been completed, calling into question the city’s overall resilience strategy in an era of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
Kochi’s vulnerability to flooding is no longer a seasonal concern but a structural failure. In the face of climate change, the city’s inability to synchronise multi-agency responses and utilise allocated budgets reflects a critical weakness in its approach to climate resilience. Without systemic reform and greater transparency in municipal operations, such delays not only disrupt livelihoods and mobility but also risk deeper urban inequalities—where vulnerable communities are hit hardest every year.
While city officials race against time to clear canals and drains before the monsoon intensifies, the episode serves as a stark reminder of how infrastructural inefficiencies can compound climate risks in fast-growing Indian cities. Kochi’s crisis is not just about rain—it’s about readiness.
Kochi flood risk rises as monsoon arrives early
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