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University of Calicut,
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The Elathur-Kallai Canal, also called the Conolly Canal, was built in 1848 on the orders of H.V. Conolly, the Collector of Malabar. The canal, which at present is part of the West Coast Canal Network of Kerala (WCC), is known by different names in different regions, such as PC Canal (Ponnai-Chavakkad Canal), TK Canal (Tanur-Koottayi Canal), EK Canal (Elathur-Kallayi Canal), Vadakar Canal, and Payyoli Canal.
It spans a length of 11.4 km and is about 6 to 20 meters (20 to 65 ft) in width. It was constructed for the transportation of goods from Malabar’s interiors to Kallayi Port via the Kuttiyadi and Korapuzha river systems. Thus, the canal was crucial in advancing commerce, irrigation, and water transportation. At a time when there was no machinery in place, the canal was constructed almost entirely by human labour.
One of the purposes of the canal other than linking rivers to the north of Chaliyar was argued to be the large-scale transport of timber from the Nilambur forests to Beypore and then through the Conolly Canal to Kallayi, close to the Calicut Bazaar, which was one of the greatest timber ports in India.
This canal also linked important commercial hubs like Kozhikode, Ponnani, Chavakkad, Kodungalloor, and Cochin. All traders passing through the Canolly Canal converged at Chavakkad, Vanjikadavu. By serving as the main route between Kozhikode and Kochi with navigational channels through Chettuva and Enamavu, the canal increased commercial activity in the weekly Wednesday markets and opened business centers in Chavakkad. It also allowed postal boat services from Kochi to Kozhikode.
Background
Mr. Gramme, the special commissioner of Malabar, suggested the construction of the Canolly Canal for water transport in 1822. Further, it was constructed in 1848 under the orders of then Malabar collector H.V. Canolly. In the beginning, he built a canal that joined the Elathur River with Kallai and the Kallai with the Beypore River. As a result, this canal was originally known as the Elathur-Kallai Canal.
A large portion of the canal was built through fields and marshes that belonged to huge landowners. They raised many concerns when the plan to build the Canal was first outlined. The major concerns included the influx of salt water from the sea due to the close proximity of the sea to the canal and potential damage to the agricultural land. In order to address these and inform the landowners about the canal’s purpose and necessity, Conolly held a meeting with them at Othayamngalam. At the meeting, Conolly pledged that the government would take all necessary precautions to keep salt water from mixing with canal water. To facilitate this further, dams were built in the canal’s opening mouths.
When the canal was completed in 1855, the landlords were compensated for the land acquired from them for the construction of canals. The canal is lined with dimension stone on most sides, whereas on other sides it is collapsed.
The Conolly Canal eventually connected with several canals, forming a waterway stretching between the northwest and southwest ends of Kerala that became known as the West Coast Canal. The construction of such a chain connecting various canals began in 1766 and was completed by 1880. This navigable canal connected three regions such as Malabar, Cochin, and Travancore and was opened in stages. The West Coast Canal was divided into several reaches and is known as such, most likely because it existed or was commissioned as such previously.
