The government would soon sanction funds for building two more bridges at Goripalayam and Kalavasal junctions respectively, said Cooperation Minister Sellur K. Raju here on Saturday.
Inaugurating the desilting works at Sellur tank, and accompanied by Revenue Minister R.B. Udayakumar, District Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao and other senior officials from the PWD, he said that desilting the tank would give scope for recharging groundwater level in Thathaneri, Aruldosspuram, Meenakshipuram and Narimedu.
Situated in the centre of Madurai Corporation and on the northern side of the Vaigai, the tank, which was originally 72.73 hectares, had over the past been either encroached or given for residential purposes.
The water source for the tank was from the Periyar Main Canal and it was benefitting both the ryots and the residents.
However, only after Jayalalithaa assumed office as Chief Minister, the government had not only evicted encroachers, but had also given importance to desilting works.
Like, the Sellur tank, the Vandiyur tank and the Madakulam tank – the prime source of water for the city’s needs – would be preserved in all aspects, Mr. Raju assured and appealed to the people not to dump garbage in the waterbodies.
The number of vehicles had gone up so much that the city was getting choked at many points.
To decongest and ensure mobility, the officials have prepared plans for construction of bridges at Goripalayam and Kalavasal.
Permanent solutionSoon, it would be taken up for approval with the Chief Minister and thus a permanent solution would be arrived at for the issue.
Not only in Madurai, but all over the State, tanks were being desilted as it would benefit the farmers and the general public, said Mr. Udayakumar.
“The State would get its due share from Cauvery and the government was taking all steps in this direction,” he added.
