Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Ooty canal, a health hazard now

By D.Radhakrishnan

Udhagamandalam July 10 . With an artificial waterway which came into being here many years ago to prevent low lying areas of this hill station getting flooded by storm water and becoming a major health hazard the local people particularly those residing close to the canal are up in arms.

The "Kodappamund Canal" was constructed shortly after the disastrous flood 25 years ago. However with the canal in a state of neglect for long, it has failed to prevent storm water from entering buildings and also become a major health hazard.

With hardly any efforts to clean the canal, it is now in an appalling state. A few years ago a huge sum was expended to de-silt the canal. But its condition has, of late, worsened.

As a result it has not only become an eye sore and an "excellent" breeding ground for mosquitoes but also a "source" of various maladies.

In regard to the large number of viral fever cases being reported from different parts of Ooty every day citizens have urged the district and civic administration to either take steps on a war-footing to clean the canal or implement some short-term schemes to make it safe for the people. Spraying of a large quantity of disinfectant is advocated.

Pointing out that schools with a sizable number of students and play grounds were located near the canal, they wanted it to be made safe for children.

Repeated representations had not produced anything tangible, they said. For the Ooty lake getting polluted the main reason was the sewage being conveyed through the canal. It has been pointed out that the on-going efforts to clean the lake would not succeed, if this source of pollution was not checked.

At a recent meeting of the Udhagamandalam Beautification Committee, the canal issue was discussed and the Nilgiris Collector, K.Sellamuthu instructed municipal officials to improve its condition. Action is yet to be taken.

Meanwhile officials said that lack of civic sense on the part of the local people was the main reason for the canal becoming a health hazard. They regretted that, notwithstanding repeated warnings, the people were dumping their garbage into the canal. Among the "culprits" were many hoteliers.

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