Lok Sabha Question No. 555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-09
Subject: Anantha Victoria Marthandam Canal
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO. 555

ANSWERED  ON 0911212022

## ANANTHA VICTORIA MARTHANDAM CANAL

## 555. DR, SHASHI THAROOR:

Willthe N.4inister  of PORTS,  SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: qf,{, qtd qffff,{,rfu  q{cFf  dfi

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal to restore the Anantha Victoria Marthandam Canal (AVM Canal) connecting Kovalam  in Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari  as a National waterway;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof, including,  the estimated  cost and duration  of the  project;
- (c) the details  of  projects identified  for National WateMays in the State  of Kerala and in the district  of Thiruvananthapuram;  and
- (d) the total estimated expenditure  for these  projects  along  with allocation  /utilisation and the status of the implementation  of these  projects?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA  SONOWAL)

- (a) No proposal  has been received to restore the Anantha-Victoria-lvlarthandam Canal  (AVM  Canal) connecting Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari. However, Government declared AVI\4 canal as National WateMay (NW)- 13 from Poovar Beach to Erayumanthurai Bus Stop ('1 '1.3  km)  {2.8  km in Kerala and 8.5 km in Tamil  Nadu) vide National Waterways  Act, 2016.

Feasibility Study of AVM Canal (NW-13)  completed in 2016 reveals  that canal is having less than 1.2 m draft in 10.60 km and presently unfeasible  for shipping and navigation due to minimum  vertical  clearance of 0.5 m on bridge  across the canal.

- (b) Does not arise.
- (c) Development of following National  Waterways  (NWs), of Kerala  in the district of Ernakulam,  Alappuzha & Kollam has been taken by lnland Waterways Authority of lndia (rwAr) -
1. NW-3- West Coast Canal (Kottapuram  - Kollam),  Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals  (205 km);

2. NW-8- Alappuzha- Changanassery  Canal (29 km) and
3. NW-g- Alappuzha - Kottayam  -  Athirampuzha canal  (40 km)
3. (d)  An expenditure of Rs.1O2.g1  cr. in tast 5 years has been incurred on these projects-(Rs.  in Crore)

| Budget HeadMaten raYS                              |   2017-18 |   2018- 19 |   2019- 20 |   2020- 21 |   2021- 22 |
|----------------------------------------------------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|
| NW-3 (West Coast Canal, Kerala) including NW-8 & I |     29.09 |      14.97 |      26.06 |      21.52 |      11.27 |

Further, an allocation of Rs. 26.00 cr. has been approved by the Government  for development  of these NWs in Kerala during the year 2022-23 to 2023-24. Status of implementation  of these projects is at Annex.  -1.

## The present  sta,tus of onqoing development works in the National Waterwav in Kerala

| Name of the Project                                                                                                                                              | Status of Project                                                                             |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (A) NW-3 (West Cost Canal Kottappuram-Kollam Canat. ChampM Canal)                                                                                                | (A) NW-3 (West Cost Canal Kottappuram-Kollam Canat. ChampM Canal)                             |
| a. Construction of new Navigational Lock at Thrikkunnapuzha, at a cost of Rs. 38 Cr.                                                                             | Construction entrusted to State lrrigation Department and Work under progress (Progress 58%). |
| b. Construction of Road over Bridge at Kovilthottam, at a cost of Rs.5.55 Cr (on 50% cost sharing basis with KMML).                                              | Work entrusted to Harbour Engineering Department Govt. of Kerala.                             |
| c. Execution of balance capital dredging and widening in Edappallikotta and Kollam stretch, at a cost of Rs.6.75 Cr.                                             | Tendering was cancelled due to non-eligibility of bidders. Retendering / NIT processed        |
| d. Lifting of 5 nos. High Tension Lines across Champakkara canal entrusted to Kerala State Electricity Board at a total cost of Rs. 5.15 Crore in February 2019. | The work undertaken through Kerala State Electricity Board. 80% Progress achieved.            |
| e. Repair of 40' Navigational lock at Thanneermukkom entrusted to lrrigation Department, Govt. of Kerala at a total project cost of Rs. 2.85 Crores.             | Work completed by State lrrigation Department in January 2020.                                |
| f. Lifting of High Tension Line at Karuthedam in Kochi Kottappuram stretch entrusted with KSEB at a total cost of Rs. 1.12 Crores.                               | Work completed in January,2020.                                                               |
| g. Annual fainruay maintenance works in NW-3 at a cost of Rs.7.42 cr. is approved during the FY 2021-22.                                                         | Annual maintenance works commenced in April 2022 for F.Y. 2A22-23                             |
| h. Operation and maintenance of IWT terminals in NW-3, at a cost of Rs.2.28 cr. is approved during the FY 2021-22.                                               | Annual maintenance works commenced in April 2022 for F.Y. 2A22-23                             |
| i. Annual maintenance works in NW-8 & NW-g, at a cost of Rs.1.13 cr. is approved during the FY 2021-22.                                                          | Annual maintenance works commenced in April 2022 for F.Y. 2A22-23                             |
| (B) NW-8 (Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal)                                                                                                                        | 24 hours navigational aids (15 nos.) provided at critical locations and being maintained.     |
| (C) NW-g (Alappuzha - Kottayam - Athirampuzha Ganal)                                                                                                             | Night navigation facilities have been installed and maintained.                               |