About the Wing
Inland Navigation
The state of Kerala is blessed with numerous rivers and backwaters. These waterways can be successfully used for commercial inland water transport. Inland water transport is a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Basic infrastructure requirement for inland water transport comprises an efficient navigation route with navigation aids, terminals, and jetties with adequate facilities to handle cargo, passengers, and vessels suitable for various needs.
The main arterial waterway in the state of Kerala is the West Coast Canal. It connects Kovalam in the south to Bekal in the north, covering a total length of 616 km. The proposal for the development of the West Coast canal and the proposed new canal formation are envisaged in 3 stages.
1st Phase of Development
The proposed works envisaged in the 1st stage are to clean the canals and make them fit for water traffic while maintaining the present width. The cleaning of the canal with existing width and making it navigable is nearing its completion stage.
2nd Phase of Development
In the second phase, it is envisaged to increase the width of the canals and to evict the encroachments through a rehabilitation process. The Land Acquisition and other related formalities are attaining their targets and are yet to be completed.
3rd Phase of Development
In order to improve basic amenities, elevate the standards of State Waterways to commensurate with National Waterways, and facilitate cargo movement to a capacity of 500 tonnes, are the primary aims envisaged in this phase.
Kuttanad Package
Kuttanad is one of the few places in the world where farming is carried out below sea level, and the region is often termed as the 'Rice bowl of the State'. It is a region spread across the Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala, known for its water bodies, agriculture, fisheries, and biodiversity. The geography of this area is marked by the deltaic formation that arises out of the confluence of five major rivers - Achankovil, Manimala, Pamba, Meenachil, and Muvattupuzha.
Every year, this area is subjected to heavy floods causing extensive damage and loss to crops and property. The Kuttanad area is highly vulnerable to bund breaching during floods, causing misery to the people by way of loss of life, houses, and financial instability due to loss of livelihoods. Through Government funds, the impact of these losses is minimized by arranging protection works under the Kuttanad Package.
The agriculture of Kuttanad wetlands is unique because large areas of rice cultivation are being done in wetlands located up to 2.5m below Mean Sea Level. The geographical area of Kuttanad comes to 1100 km² and the population is about 15 lakhs. The main livelihoods are agriculture and fisheries. The polders formed by bunds are called padasekharams, covering an area of 550 km² (55,000 ha). During the past 3 decades, many houses were constructed on these bunds, all of which are susceptible to floods.
Kuttanad Package (1st Phase)
To mitigate the agrarian distress in Alappuzha and Kuttanad Wetland Ecosystem, the Union Government entrusted Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, Chennai, to conduct a scientific study. The foundation recommended 15 Tasks costing ₹1840 Crs. Out of this, works worth ₹1517 Crs were taken up by the Irrigation Department. After extensive study and surveys, DPRs for 7 schemes were prepared and submitted under FMP, out of which 4 Schemes were sanctioned by the Government of India.
Kuttanad Package (2nd Phase)
During the severe floods of 2018 and 2019, the Kuttanad area was acutely affected, submerging the region, destroying paddy crops across 15,000 Ha, and inundating over 50,000 houses. Consequent to these torrential floods, a decision was taken by the Hon’ble Chief Minister to implement the 2nd phase of the Kuttanad Package. The projects are currently being carried out using funds allotted in the state budget from 2019 onwards.