Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Channels to be covered

Staff Reporter

Culverts to be widened wherever necessary

DISCUSSION: The Mayor, G. Thenmozhi, and the Corporation Commissioner, D.J. Dinakkaren, at a review meeting held on Monday .— PHOTO: S. JAMES.

MADURAI: The Corporation has planned to cover the 11 drainage channels and widen their culverts wherever necessary and possible.

At a review meeting held here on Monday, the Commissioner, D.J. Dinakkaren, asked the private consultant conducting the survey to revise its proposal and provide the technical feasibility including the suggestions made by several councillors.

The private consultant has proposed to carry out the improvement works in the 11 channels, excluding Vandiyur and Panaiyur channels, at a cost of Rs. 165 crores.

A representative of the consultant said that the channels were in bad shape in many places. They were damaged, and were not carrying sewage but were being used as garbage dumping place.

Stating that the average maximum rainfall experienced in the city was 45 mm, the design for improvement was planned to carry the entire rainwater without any stagnation and flooding of the city. The channels would be lined. Echoing the views of the councillors, Mr. Dinakkaren said lining of the channels within the city limits was not enough, but should be done fully.

"Mosquitoes can fly for three km," he said to point out that the work would not fetch the desired result of doing away with mosquito menace.

Besides, various water-logging spots identified in the city would be set right. "The city should look like Bengaluru, where water disappears within minutes after rain," the Commissioner said. Encroachments on the channels would be removed and they would be rehabilitated, he added.

The Superintending Engineer, K. Sakthivel, said the tanks fed by the channels that run through the southern part of the city would be deepened to drain the rainwater from the city.

The Mayor, G. Thenmozhi, the Deputy Mayor, P.M. Mannan, were present.

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