WRD begins clearing water hyacinth from Uyyakondan canal in Tiruchi

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An earth mover deployed to clear water hyacinth from the Uyyakondan canal in Tiruchi. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

With the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur set to be opened soon for irrigation, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has begun clearing the lush growth of water hyacinth on the city stretch of the Uyyakondan canal.

The weeds would be removed for a length of about 14 km at a cost of over ₹60 lakh, sources in the department told The Hindu . “The work commenced on Thursday on the Azhvarthoppu-Alathur stretch. Six works are being taken up as part of the initiative to clear the weed growth on various stretches and they would go on for about a couple of weeks,” an official said.

A thick blanket of hyacinth covers the canal on many stretches in the city. District Collector Pratik Tayal, along with senior officials, had inspected the canal after farmers and civic activists had complained over the pollution and the thick weed growth.

The 1,000-year-old Uyyakondan canal, built by Raja Raja Chola and renovated by Kulothunga Chola, 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 which are the main source of irrigation for farmers.

The urban stretch of the canal between the Puthur Weir and Ariyamangalam in the city where sewage is discharged into it at various places. A plan to establish sewage treatment plants along the canal remains on paper.

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