The Hindu 30.04.2013
Private body gets nod to clean two water bodies in Coimbatore
RAAC will make use of silt to strengthen the bunds.
Coimbatore District Collector M. Karunagaran has
accorded sanction to the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore
(RAAC) to clear two water bodies of silt in the city and enhance the
storage capacity. The two water bodies are Ukkadam Big Tank and
Singanallur Tank.
RAAC president C.R. Swaminathan and
secretary R. Raveendran petitioned the Collector seeking permission to
clean the tanks help in re-charge of the aquifers in a bid to improve
the ground water table. The plea was for early permission before the
onset of the South West monsoon.
Complying with the
condition imposed by the Collector and the State-level Environment
Impact Assessment Authority of Tamil Nadu (EIA), RAAC will make use of
the silt to strengthen the bunds and also to create mounds in the
respective tanks.
There will not be any removal, transportation of silt or use in any other commercial venture.
The
green signal to clear the tanks given to a private party comes after
clarifications with the Executive Engineer of Water Resource
Organisation (WRO) of the Public Works Department and a No Objection
Certificate (NOC) from the Corporation.
EIA had said
that if the proposal was for increasing the storage capacity and to help
in recharge of ground water in the nearby areas and if the tanks do not
have any culture command area, the project will not attract the
provisions of EIA notification of 2006 or its subsequent amendment in
2010.
RAAC has thanked Mayor S.M. Velusamy, the
Collector, Corporation Commissioner G. Latha, Deputy Commissioner S.
Sivarasu, PWD and EIA officials for expediting the process of their
petition so as to commence the works at the earliest. RAAC has been
given time till May 31, to complete the works.