Coimbatore: The decision by the Municipality Commissioner to commence desilting and dredging of rivers in Valparai has earned much appreciation from the residents who are subjected to face flood-like situations during every monsoon rains.
Coimbatore: The decision by the Municipality Commissioner to commence desilting and dredging of rivers in Valparai has earned much appreciation from the residents who are subjected to face flood-like situations during every monsoon rains.
Residents of Valparai have been pointing that lack of desilting and dredging works in Puduthottam and Nadumalai rivers are the main reasons for flooding and overflowing of river waters during rains. While factors like encroachments and dumping of wastes also play a crucial role, periodic maintenence of water bodies especially before the monsoons can help store more water and address flooding issues, opine the public.
"Flooding could be prevented, if dredging was timely carried out at Pudhuthottam and the Nadumalai rivers which has been lacking maintenance for many years. No dredging or other maintenance activities have been carried out in these rivers, as a result, the rivers tend to overflow and cause floods during the monsoon rains", the residents allege.
"Every year around 500 houses in the regions of Vazhaithottam, Kamaraj nagar, Kakkan Colony, Children's park and Dhobi Colony are inundated in the flood. Even the TNSTC Depot was not spared in the 2018 and last year floods", recall the residents.
To avoid such eventualities, the Municipality Commissioner Pavanraj has initiated dredging activities to be undertaken in the Pudhutottam river, well ahead of the onset of the rains.
"Dredging work will be taken up between Kakkan Colony and Stanmore Estate. Blocks in the river will be cleared using JCB machines and the banks will be strengthened to restrict entry of water into the residential areas", he informed.
Similar activities are being undertaken in the Nadumalai river, too. Apart from the two rivers, blocks and encroachments along other water bodies will be carried out subsequently, the officials told.
Residents of Valparai have been pointing that lack of desilting and dredging works in Puduthottam and Nadumalai rivers are the main reasons for flooding and overflowing of river waters during rains. While factors like encroachments and dumping of wastes also play a crucial role, periodic maintenence of water bodies especially before the monsoons can help store more water and address flooding issues, opine the public.
"Flooding could be prevented, if dredging was timely carried out at Pudhuthottam and the Nadumalai rivers which has been lacking maintenance for many years. No dredging or other maintenance activities have been carried out in these rivers, as a result, the rivers tend to overflow and cause floods during the monsoon rains", the residents allege.
"Every year around 500 houses in the regions of Vazhaithottam, Kamaraj nagar, Kakkan Colony, Children's park and Dhobi Colony are inundated in the flood. Even the TNSTC Depot was not spared in the 2018 and last year floods", recall the residents.
To avoid such eventualities, the Municipality Commissioner Pavanraj has initiated dredging activities to be undertaken in the Pudhutottam river, well ahead of the onset of the rains.
"Dredging work will be taken up between Kakkan Colony and Stanmore Estate. Blocks in the river will be cleared using JCB machines and the banks will be strengthened to restrict entry of water into the residential areas", he informed.
Similar activities are being undertaken in the Nadumalai river, too. Apart from the two rivers, blocks and encroachments along other water bodies will be carried out subsequently, the officials told.