WRD begins annual exercise of removing hyacinth from Uyyakondan canal

Amidst concerns being expressed over the continued discharge of sewage into the Uyyakondan Canal, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has started removing the thick growth of water hyacinth on the city stretch of the canal.

The department had deployed a few earthmovers, besides engaging men who are adept in the work to clear the weeds as the irrigation season has commenced. Since it is difficult to remove the weeds when there was no water low, the WRD has taken up the task after the release of water for irrigation in the canal.

The 1,000-year-old Uyyakondan canal, built by Raja Raja Cholan and renovated by Kulothunga Cholan, has an ayacut of 32,000 acres and feeds 36 tanks. It traverses about 71 km between Pettavaithalai and Vazhavanthankottai tank in Tiruchi district. The Uyyakondan extension canal runs into Thanjavur district feeding some irrigation tanks.

The canal has been bearing the brunt of heavy urban pollution on its city stretch from the Puthur Weir to Ariyamangalam as domestic sewage is let out into the canal at various places. This makes it the ideal ground for hyacinth to grow in abundance.

Civic activists for long have been pressing for effective steps to check the sewage flow into the canal in the city. “The canal has become a drain due to the discharge of sewage and dumping of garbage. The government should take steps to restore the canal to its original glory,” said K.C. Neelamegam of Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam. A plan to establish sewage water treatment plants along the canal was yet to see the light of the day.

Removing the weeds posed a challenge to the WRD and it had become a chore every year. “The machines could not enter the canal in the residential areas and hence we are deploying experienced men to clear the weeds. The weeds would be removed fully on the city stretch of the canal from Puthur to Ariyamangalam and beyond,” a senior WRD official said.

The removed weeds have to be dried and are dumped alongside the canals, triggering complaints from local residents. Sources conceded that disposing the weed too posed a problem. The responsibility would fall on the Corporation. A senior official said that they were willing to allow any agency or company to take away the weeds, even free of cost, for being used as biomass.

Meanwhile, about 250-300 cusecs of water is being discharged into the canal to meet the irrigation requirements. The water had reached Thuvakudi, a senior official of the WRD said and added that the Uyyakondan Extension Canal would get supply in another 10 days.