Conolly Canal

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Connolly Canal seen near Chavakkad Sarovaram 08719.JPG
Connolly Canal seen near Chavakkad

Conolly Canal, sometimes spelled as Canoly Canal, is the part of the West coast canal (WCC) network of Kerala and the canal was constructed by combining the rivers and streams along the coast with the intention of creating a vast waterway from Kozhikode to Kochi. It was constructed in the year 1848 under the orders of then collector of Malabar, H.V. Conolly, initially to facilitate movement of goods to Kallayi Port from hinter lands of Malabar through Kuttiyadi and Korapuzha river systems. [1]

Contents

The construction was from 1848–50. The canal was built almost entirely by human labour at a time when no machinery was in place. The Canoly Canal connects various rivers and streams including the Korapuzha river in the north and the Kallai River in the south thus forming part of the line of water communication from Vadakara to Beypore. [2] The width of the canal varies between 6 and 20 metres (20 to 65 ft), and the water depth during the monsoon ranges between 0.5 and 2 metres (1.5 to 6 ft).

This was the main waterway for the cargo movement between Kochi and Calicut, trade was the definition of the Canolly canal for more than a century. Major coastal towns such as Chavakkad, Ponnani and Kandassankadavu developed because of the freight trade along the canal. The main products of the coastal line, coconut oil and coconut fibre (Chakiri), were transported to Cochin by using "kettuvallam" (old house boat) through this canal. Many of the things in the once popular Chavakkadu Kuttakkunnu weekly market came through the Canolly Canal. Even the lives of ordinary people were associated with the canal. They used the water of cannoli for all purposes except drinking. The main dependence of the coastal settlers was for bathing and washing clothes. Fishing was also active in small ponds. [3] The sides of most of the canal are lined with dimension stone, but at some locations the lining has collapsed. In a number of places along the canal, trees and bushes and water plants have grown, causing the water flow in the middle stretch of the canal to become weaker. [4]

The Canoly Canal Development Samithi in Kozhikode had decided to start speedboat service on the canal from Karaparamba to the Sarovaram park site in September 2009. [5]

Course

The course of Canoly Canal from Kozhikkode to Kodungallur (Kottapuram) of around 170 km is today part of National Waterway 3 through the National Waterways Act, 2016. [6] [7] It's a part of 630 km long Western Coastal canal (WCC) project in Malabar Coast.

See also

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References

  1. "Reviving the historic Canoly Canal". The Hindu . 5 January 2005. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  2. Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway 1926 Page 203 "The Conolly canal connects the Kallayi river with the Ellattur river and thus provides an uninterrupted line of water communication from Beypore to Vatakara, a distance of 37 miles ; the canal derives its name from Mr. Conolly, Collector of ..."
  3. "പുനര്‍ജനി തേടുന്ന കനോലി".
  4. Hamnö, Anders; Pettersson, Asa (2005), IMPACT OF MAJOR WATERWAY SYSTEMS ON GROUNDWATER QUALITY - A CASE STUDY ON CANOLI CANAL (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2006, retrieved 19 February 2006
  5. "Speedboat service on Canoly Canal". The Hindu . 9 May 2009. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  6. "Centre turns down Kerala plea to extend national waterway 3". @businessline. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. "Promoting Inland Waterways in The Country". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. "Steps mooted to revive Canoli canal". The Hindu. 18 August 2017. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 15 April 2020.