The Hindu 13.08.2010
Desilting of stormwater drains under way
Staff Reporter
| More than 1,5000 cubic metres of silt removed from drains |
— Photo : T.Singaravelou 
Spot study: Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam and Minister for Public Works M.O.H.F. Shahjahan inspecting desilting operations in Puducherry on Thursday.
PUDUCHERRY: With the North-East Monsoon fast approaching, the Public Works Department is carrying out desilting operations at major stormwater drains in the town. The works were inspected by Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam on Thursday.
PWD officials said that the plan was to remove 50,000 cubic metres of silt and 60,000 cubic metres of sand from the lagoon region. As the dredging work began in March, more than 1,5000 cubic metres of silt has been removed from the drains.
The officials said that more than 6,000 lorries have been used for the desilting process.
The collected silt has been moved to a vacant land near Muthirapalayam. The officials said the works were moving as per schedule and that all major drains would be desilted before the monsoon.
The nature of the ongoing clean-up process was different compared to earlier attempts when only floating objects were removed from the drains.
At present, the accumulated waste from the drains was being cleared to increase the water carrying capacity, the officials said.
This was the first time that the lagoon was being dredged in 15 years. The work was being carried out at a cost of Rs. 1.28 crore.
It may be recalled that the National Consultancy for Planning and Engineering, Hyderabad, appointed by the territorial government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to give a detailed project report for improving stormwater drains in the town, submitted its report in July.
The proposed work under the project includes improvement of Grand Canal, Rainbow Nagar drain, Uppar drain from Sithenkudi to confluence point in the town, Point Care canal, Krishna Nagar canal, Petit canal, Ellaipillaichavady drain from Vivekanda Nagar to Puducherry Housing Board office and Karuvadikuppam drain from Venus Theatre to Ambika Theatre bridge.
