Work begins on desilting channel at Kandhal
Ooty:The channel running through Kandhal near Udhagamandlam being desilted on Monday. Work on desilting the channel running through Kandhal near here commenced on Sunday. With silt accumulating in the channel which extends over about 1.5 kms a large number of houses located along it had over the past few years been affected by overflowing storm water. Consequently a number of representations had been made to the civic administration by the affected persons.Over the last couple of months the condition of the channel had become a major source of concern to the residents and the civic authorities. The desilting works were inspected by the Chairman, Udhagamandalam Municipal Council, R. Rajendran, and the Municipal Commissioner, Seeni Ajmal Khan, on Monday.Later speaking , Mr. Khan said since the channel had not been desilted for several years it had become a threat to the people who had constructed houses without adequate safety measures along the channel.
The main reason for the channel not serving its purpose was the considerable amount of soil from the adjoining agricultural fields being washed into it during heavy rains. The desilting and culvert widening works have been taken up at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh. They would be completed within three days.He added that if the channel was not desilted periodically storm water would start overflowing. Since it would cost about Rs. 40 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh to construct side walls efforts would be made to get funds from various sources including the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP).
Pointing out that the desilting of the channel would benefit the residents of three wards, Councillor K. Nagaraj hoped that the people would help in keeping it clean. He lamented that at some places unwanted items including mattresses had been dumped into the channel.Gratified at the work initiated on desilting the channel an old resident Rosalyn said that for many years the channel had made them spend sleepless nights during heavy rains.Meanwhile, residents of Udhagamandalam hoped that the Municipality would also take up the work of de-silting the Kodappamund Channel which cut through the town. They said that either the PWD, which was responsible for maintaining the channel should de-silt it or it should be handed over to the civic authorities.
