DPR alert to study floods, drought situation before taking up K-Rail puts Govt on defensive

Thiruvananthapuram: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the SilverLine semi speed rail or K-Rail has contained a clear warning to the State Government that the possibilities of floods, drought and landslip should be assessed beforehand while taking up the project. The DPR says that both soil and water will get contaminated during the construction work.

It points out that the proposed rail will mainly pass through paddy fields. Moreover, the waterways will have to be diverted. The DPR also says that the high cost for the project is a challenge.

The DPR was published through the website of the State Assembly even though the State Government, the K-Rail Ltd and the State Information Commission had been consistently saying since the preparation of the DPR that it was a secret document and it could not be disclosed,

The 3,000-page document was finally published in response to the question asked by Aluva MLA Anwar Sadat in the State Assembly in the last October.

Geographical apprehensions listed in DPR

Because of peculiarity of rain in Kerala, the reclamation of low-lying areas would lead to floods.
Paddy fields should not be reclaimed at any cost.
Any kind of planning for the project should take into account the threat of floods, drought and landslip.
Mangroves will have to be destroyed in large-scale. The rail also goes through CRZ-notified areas.
It cannot be said at this stage the volume of sand and rocks needed for the project. The construction material needed for the project will not be fully available from Kerala.
If needed, new quarries will have to be started.
If necessary, the rail should be re-routed across waterways. But the existing surface water and underground water will have to be driven out.
Because of SilverLine project construction, waterways will become polluted and the quality of water will take a beating.
Water at the construction site should not be allowed to flow without treating it.
During construction time, 30 million litres of water are needed. Once it is operationalized, five million litres of water are needed.

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