‘Citizens for Uyyakondan’, a group of volunteers in the city, involved in cleaning up the polluted canal received a shot in the arm after the recent launch of 'Save Uyyakondan' an app meant to bring about an attitudinal change among the people towards the waterbody.
Considering the canal’s historic significance - constructed 1,000 years ago during the Chola era - the group started its cleaning work and awareness exercises from the start of this year. In appreciation of the group's initiative, the app was developed free of cost by Coimbatore-based Climate Smart Technologies.
Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran who released the app in the presence of the Founder of Climate Smart Technologies Jeevanandhan Duraisamy exuded hope that the latest initiative will accord a thrust to the efforts of 'Citizens of Uyyakondan' to bring about the desired attitudinal change among the people.
According to Mr. Jeevanandhan, the app has features to upload photos and videos of the works undertaken.
The updated information of the cleaning works will be made available, he said.
The technology-backed solution has been made available to the citizens at a time when the water body that flows through the city and extends up to Thuvakkudi tank has been facing rampant pollution due to discharge of sewage from residential localities.
Having proposed the Uyyakondan Canal Beautification Project under the Smart City scheme, the City Corporation has been looking for substantial support from the citizens.
“The initiative by the Citizens for Uyyakondan is a first step in right direction. There is much to be done,” V. Ganapathy, Advisor, Tiruchi District Exnora, said.
Rivers and canals passing through cities carry wastage, sullage and septage. But, it was possible to clean up polluted rivers, Mr. Ganapathy said, citing a report in the recent issue of Gobar Times, a special children's supplement published by Down to Earth Magazine of the Centre of Science and Environment, New Delhi.
The report details how the Han river in South Korea that was highly polluted by toxic waste two decades ago has been converted into a beautiful tourist spot with clean water flowing throughout the year.
The City Corporation is hopeful that the cleanliness of the canal can be ensured once the underground drainage project is completed.
