District Collector Sandeep Nanduri on Friday formally inaugurated the desilting of Palayam Channel for about 10 km from Pazhavoor check-dam to Tharuvai.
The exercise will be completed within 30 days.
After inaugurating the desilting, Mr. Sandeep said that the district administration, with the contribution of corporate firms and technical support from Anna University’s Tirunelveli Regional Office, had commenced the desilting of irrigation channels and good number of water bodies.
As a part of this ongoing exercise, the 42 km-long Palayam Channel, which was nourshing crops, especially paddy cultivated on 9,500 acres in 22 revenue villages, would be desilted.
In the first phase, the 10 lm-long section of the Palayam Channel between Pazhavoor check-dam and Tharuvai would be desilted within a month.
“Even as this month-long desilting exercise is on, all irrigation channels passing through Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai will be desilted by the Public Works Department. Hence, the public, who should also join hands with the district administration in keeping the irrigation channels clean, should keep the water bodies clean and free from encroachment and debris,” Mr. Sandeep appealed.
The Collector also informed that cleaning of Tamirabharani in phases would begin.
Even as Mr. Sandeep was inspecting the cleaning of Palayam Channel, a group of farmers met him and thanked him for the initiative.
Sub-Collector, Cheranmahadevi Akash, Dean, Anna University’s Tirunelveli Regional Office G. Sakthinathan and others were present at the event.
