KOLLAM: As part of the fourth anniversary celebrations of the United Democratic Front Government, a comprehensive programme to clean the Kollam canal was launched on Tuesday by the Labour Minister, Babu Divakaran.

Cleaning of the canal under the supervision of the Inland Navigation Department is being carried out in association with the city corporation, the district administration and other voluntary organisations.

The canal from Kollam to Eravipuram is more than 7,800 metres long. The water in the canal is stagnant and overgrown with water hyacinth. The operation will comprise clearing the canal of hyacinth, removal of silt and sand from a depth of four feet from the canal bed and create facility for water to flow through a width of 15 meters.

The programme is being implemented in three phases. The first phase will be at a cost of Rs. 55 lakhs and is expected to be completed in three months. As part of the programme, those residing on either banks of the canal will be rehabilitated elsewhere. A new bridge over the canal will come up at the Kochupilamoodu point.

The cleaned canal will be developed as a tourist attraction with boat services in the third phase. Gardens will come up on the banks. The canal will also serve as the Kollam course for the Kovalam-Kottapuram National Waterway.

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