Thoothukudi Races to Clear Drainage Canal Before Monsoon Hits

As of August 16, 2025, the Thoothukudi Corporation has initiated the desilting of the 7.2-kilometer Puckle canal, the city's major rainwater drainage channel. The work is expected to be completed before the onset of the monsoon season.

Currently, three earth movers are deployed at different locations along the canal, with one focused on widening the tail end where the canal meets the sea, another operating near the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown, and the third engaged in routine cleaning. While the corporation is determined to finish the task before the rains, local residents of Thoothukudi feel that the canal requires a more comprehensive and long-term maintenance plan.

Thoothukudi CPI(M) city secretary Muthu welcomed the corporation's desilting initiative but stressed the need to restore the dilapidated embankments, particularly near Raju Nagar. He emphasized that beyond annual desilting, the corporation should ensure proper maintenance of the canal, as it is the city's primary drainage source.

On the other hand, AIADMK functionary A. Santhanam criticized the slow progress of the work in certain stretches, noting that invasive weed growth and the accumulation of plastic waste near the Third Mile region are obstructing the flow of water, creating unhygienic conditions and leading to infections in the locality.

Thoothukudi Mayor Jegan Periyasamy stated that the canal has been desilted regularly for the past three to four years, which has significantly improved water flow during the monsoon, except during the heavy floods in 2023. He added that the corporation is continuously spreading awareness on preventing plastic clogging in canals and other water bodies, and has requested the public to cooperate with the effort. The desilting work is planned for completion before September 15 to ensure free flow of water along the entire stretch of the canal.