Shrubs on 28 lakh square feet of the Palar riverbed in Vellore have been removed between the Polur Subramaniam Bridge (Old Palar Bridge) and Anna Flyover (New Palar Bridge). The works are being carried out under the first phase of the Clean Palar scheme taken up jointly by the VIT University, the Water Resources Organization (WRO) of the Public Works Department, the Vellore district administration and the Vellore Corporation. Shrubs on 86 lakh square feet of the river bed are to be cleared from the one-km-long and 800-m-wide stretch between the Anna flyover and the railway bridge in Konavattam under the second phase of the scheme which was inaugurated by R. Nanthagopal, Collector of Vellore on Saturday.
Talking to newspersons after inspecting the completed work and the work in progress under the scheme along with P. Karthiyayini, Mayor of Vellore, G.V. Selvam, vice-president of VIT and WRO officials, Mr. Nanthagopal said that cleaning of the riverbed between the Polur Subramaniam Bridge and the Collectorate would be taken up under the third phase on completion of the second phase.
He said that steps would be taken to remove the unauthorised slaughter houses on the Palar river bed after providing an alternative place to them.
He asked the WRO to put up a warning board on the river bed asking the public not to dump garbage on the river bed, and that the violators would be fined.
The Mayor said that action would be taken against those who discharge drainage and sewage water and dump garbage in the river.
Roads on banks
Mr. Selvam said that steps would be taken to lay roads on both the banks of the Palar river to connect the old and new bridges and to develop a garden along the road.
The Corporation has assured to construct a compound wall for the graveyard on the southern bank of the river so as to prevent misuse of the river by those who come to bury the dead.
During the inspection, stone pillars were erected by the Revenue Department along the banks of the river in order to officially demarcate the river.
The Collector said that the scheme was being implemented with contributions from the public including voluntary organisations and individuals.
He appealed to those individuals and organisations interested in contributing to the scheme to contact S. Thamizhmaran, Project Officer, Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies, VIT University, Vellore (ph.0416-2202 156 / 2202 444).
Shrubs on 28 lakh square feet cleared in first phase
