The Hindu              01.07.2013

10 tanks to be dredged to harness rainwater of monsoon

The Pudukottai Municipality has identified 10 tanks for dredging to harness more rainwater during the northeast monsoon.

The tanks have not been cleared of silt for the last several decades, and the accumulated earth has not only reduced the storage capacity of these water bodies but also poses a grave risk as during heavy rains, water from these tanks overflow and maroon the residential areas in their periphery.

The tanks identified are: Mela Nainar tank, Adappankulam, Rajakulam, Samathuvapuram tank, Dr. Ambedkar kulam, Ibrahim Sha kulam, Pallavankulam, Naththampallam kulam, Peraankulam and Pazhaniyandikulam. The total expenditure is about Rs. 34 lakh.

Each tank will be dredged to a length of 120 metres and breadth of 180 metres. The depth for which the silt will be cleared is about 75 cm. The municipality will reconstruct the retaining walls wherever necessary. The works will be completed by the end of this month, sources said.

Dredging works at the tanks commenced on Friday in the presence of S.A. Sait, Municipal Chairman (in-charge), V.C. Ramaiah, district panchayat president, and municipal councillors.