Courtesy : The Hindu Date : 02.06.2009

Salem Corporation begins desilting Vellakuttai Odai

Staff Reporter

Photo: P. Goutham

Timely action: Salem Corporation workers removing silt from the Vellakuttai Odai in Salem on Monday. —

SALEM: Salem Corporation has begun removing silt from the bed of Vellakuttai Odai here on Monday.

This comes in the wake of complaints from people that the flow of waste water in the channel remains affected and sewage overflows during rain.

A number of colonies located near the channel were flooded during the recent rain.

The channel, a surplus course of the Vellakuttai Eri and a major sewer that passes through several residential colonies before joining the Tirumanimutharu River accumulated silt due to the unmindful dumping of solid waste by commercial establishments.

Eateries and shopkeepers continue to dispose of garbage in the channel despite warnings from the Corporation.

Civic officials have also failed to take concrete measures to prevent commercial establishments from dumping solid waste.

With the city witnessing heavy rain for the past few days, sewage mixed with rainwater is flowing to the rim of the channel.

Civic officials deployed earth movers and a team of workers to remove the silt and ensure smooth flow of waste water in the channel.

Officials said that a portion of the channel had already been taken up for improvement as a part of the second phase of the Tirumanimutharu River Project.

The entire course of the channel would be improved in a phased manner.

This is expected to help ensure smooth flow of waste water.