Palar clean-up operation takes long strides

Under VIT’s Green Vellore scheme

Three-fourths of the stretch of the Palar between the new and old bridge is free from shrubs and bushes, thanks to the Clean Palar Project initiated by the VIT University last month.— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Much headway has been made in cleaning the stretch of Palar River between the Polur Subramaniam Bridge (Old Palar Bridge) and Anna Flyover (New Palar Bridge) in Vellore under the Green Vellore Scheme of the VIT University, which was launched on January 16 this year.

Association

The VIT launched the project in association with the Vellore Corporation, Rotary and Lions Clubs of Vellore, the Vellore District Hotels Association, Junior Chamber International chapters of Vellore and the Federation of All Traders’ Associations of Vellore.

The work was taken up after an approval was given to the proposal by the Water Resources Organization (WRO) of the Public Works Department . The proposal envisaged clearing the bushes and shrubs that have grown indiscriminately on the stretch of the river bed between the Polur Subramaniam Bridge and Konavattam for a distance of 5 km, under the first phase of Green Vellore.

Shrubs cleared

A visit to the Palar River here showed that almost three-fourths of the river bed between the old and new bridges has been cleared of the shrubs. The Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies (CSRD-RS), VIT, which is coordinating the project is currently engaged in levelling the river bed.

Pathways closed

S. Thamizhmaran, Project Officer of CSRD-RS, said that the centre had closed the pathway on the four corners of the river bed between the bridges through which lorries carrying wastes from hotels and slaughter houses used to enter and dump them in the river bed.

Now, only two-wheelers could enter the pathways. Steps are afoot to divert the drainage being discharged into the river away from it with the help of the Vellore Corporation.

The CSRD-RS received public contribution to the tune of Rs.28 lakh out of the Rs.1.53 crore which is the cost of the project.

“Since the project can be implemented only with the cooperation and financial contribution of the public, we first decided to take up the cleaning of the river between the two bridges a pilot project in order to motivate individuals and organisations to contribute for the project”.

Funds would be raised and the project continued up to Konavattam.

The future plans included raising the river bunds on both sides and cultivating bougainvillea plants and forming a garden on the bunds, he said.