Waterways that are silted and clogged with waste may soon undergo a revamp with the Water Resources Department (WRD) proposing to take up desilting work.
During a recent meeting organised by Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, the WRD was instructed to clean up waterways under its control well ahead of the northeast monsoon season. The department has been asked to take up this work under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Several stretches of Otteri Nullah, North Buckingham canal and Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam canal are choked with silt and garbage. Those abutting residential areas such as the one near Padi Pudhu Nagar are easy targets for abuse.
Sources at WRD said cleaning these narrow stretches near residential localities would pose a major challenge. Instructions have also been given for projects that are already underway across the city are to be expedited ahead of the monsoons. The works include construction of diversion channels from water bodies or canals to drain excess water into the sea.
The department plans to procure 30 pieces of equipment to clean the waterways. Last year, 30-40 loads of silt and waste were removed from the canals daily.
“We will start work in a few days to enable free flow of water and complete it by September to maintain the original depth of the canal bed,” said an official.
Besides this, the department is also awaiting funds from the government to desilt Cooum and Adyar rivers as part of the monsoon-preparedness work.
