T'puram's Polluted Canal Gets Major Overhaul

The Amayizhanjan canal in T'puram is set for a comprehensive cleaning operation, a joint effort by the irrigation department, city corporation, and district administration. This initiative aims to remove years of accumulated waste and implement measures to prevent future dumping.

The major irrigation department has finalized the tendering process, with operations expected to commence next week. An estimated 2,000 loads of garbage and silt will be cleared. The district administration sanctioned Rs 1.05 crore for this project about a month ago, following inter-departmental discussions.

This effort seeks a permanent solution to the canal's recurring waste problem, which has been a dumping ground for households and commercial establishments. The corporation will assist in waste removal and management. The canal's clogging has often led to waterlogging during heavy rains, highlighting its critical role in the city's drainage.

Simultaneously, the irrigation department is pursuing a Rs 5.54 crore dome fencing project to secure vulnerable stretches and deter dumping. However, encroachments and structures along the banks are hindering progress on fencing, requiring cooperation from the corporation for their removal.

Previous attempts using technology like AI-enabled robots and CCTV surveillance proved insufficient against the volume of waste. The urgency for coordinated intervention intensified after a sanitation worker drowned during a cleaning operation in July 2024, prompting governmental action and proposals for physical barriers and integrated cleaning efforts.