Source : The Hindu Date : 19.06.2009
Salem Corporation deputes team to clean drainage channels
Staff Reporter
— Photo: P. Goutham
At work: Salem Corporation workers removing silt from a drainage channel in Maniyanur on Thursday.
SALEM: The Salem Corporation has deputed a team of workers to carry out cleaning works in a number of drainage channels in Sooramangalam zone.
Following widespread complaints from the public that sewage was overflowing from many drains, the civic administration formed a team and started removing silt from the channels in several residential colonies in the wards, which were coming under its control. The Bangalore-based private firm, Swatchatha Corporation, which was carrying out sanitary works in 21 wards, was also instructed to remove silt from the drainage channels.
The channels accumulated silt due to indiscriminate dumping of solid waste into them by commercial establishments and a few irresponsible citizens. Another major reason for the accumulation of silt was the failure of civic body and the private firm in carrying out cleaning works on a regular basis, the residents say.
The civic body had earlier made announcements that stern action would be initiated against those dumping solid waste into the drainage channels. But the authorities had failed to evolve an appropriate mechanism to put an end to such a practice.
“The implementation of the Underground Drainage Project is the only solution for various problems related to open sewer channels in the city. But the execution of the project is delayed inordinately for reasons best known to the officials,” people said.
