Other States - Puducherry   

Major canals to be desilted

Photo: T. Singaravelou

Stagnating woes: The Uppar canal, the largest drainage system in Puducherry, will be desilted soon. —

PUDUCHERRY: The Local Administration and Public Works Departments have decided to clean and desilt major canals in the town as part of the “Clean and Green Puducherry” project.

Sources in the Local Administration Department said a high-level meeting had been convened on Monday to discuss the modalities of the programme and the number of canals to be desilted.

There are around 10 canals maintained by the PWD and a few minor drains managed by the Oulgaret and Pondicherry Municipalities that had to be cleaned, they said.

The Local Administration Department had drawn up an action plan to desilt and clean all sewage and stormwater drains before the monsoon, they added.

Drainage canals such as the Uppar, Grand and drains at Karuvadikuppam, Goond Salai and Saram had not been desilted for years.

The Health Department had been demanding desilting of these canals for a long time as they had become a major breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“We have decided to desilt and clean all these canals on a war-footing. At least, the major canals such as the Uppar and the Grand will be cleaned before the end of next month,” a senior official told The Hindu.

The Local Administration Department, with the help of NSS volunteers, would also be launching a programme against the use of polythene bags in the town and suburban areas, he said.

The department had already started a 24-hour cleaning programme on the beach and its adjoining areas, he added.

After the cleaning exercise, the department, in association with voluntary organisations, would embark on a massive drive to plant saplings in the town, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Major canals to be desilted
Additional chances for old diploma students
All about knee care
Concrete roads to be laid
Documentary films on human rights, environment to be screened
Zonal Scouts and Guides camp
Signing off the celebrations with floral decorations
Midwifery conference
BJP activists held
Flight services to begin in Puducherry airport from November-end

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu