Source : The Hindu Date : 27.06.2009
Rs.203 crore for underground drainage system in Puducherry
Staff Reporter
| Tender will soon be floated to invite bids to award works |
Photo: T. Singaravelou 
Spot study: Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam and his Cabinet colleagues inspecting a special drive to clean sewage canals in Puducherry on Friday. —
PUDUCHERRY: The Union government has sanctioned Rs.203 crore to convert the open drainage into an underground system under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission in the Union Territory, Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam said here on Friday.
Interacting with reporters after inspecting the work of cleaning sewage canals, he said tenders would soon be floated for the works. Of the total amount, Rs.40 crore had already been released, he said.
The Public Works Department had been entrusted with the task of cleaning all major drainage canals within three months, he said. “This is only the first phase of the cleaning programme. During the period solid waste deposited in the canals will be removed in order to allow smooth flow of drainage,” he said.
In the second phase, all the canals will be de-silted and then re-designed, he added.
Officials in the Public Works Department told The Hindu that all the floating objects and sand accumulated on the banks of the canal would be removed in three months. The expenditure involved for cleaning works out to around Rs.17 lakh.
The Department had sought Rs.32.5 lakh to de-silt and clean small canals on the outskirts of urban limits. An amount of Rs.80 lakh had been sought to de-silt the river courses and channels in the rural areas, the official said.
Others who were part of the inspection team included Public Works Department Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, Public Health Minister A. Namasivayam , Chief Secretary to the Government of Puducherry R. Chandramohan and senior officials from the administration.
