Mega drive launched to clean stormwater drains, channels

Coimbatore: With monsoon fast approaching, the district administration has deployed more than 1,200 workers to clean stormwater drains and channels of water bodies.
Corporation commissioner Raja Gopal Sunkara and Coimbatore collector G S Sameeran inaugurated the mega clean-up drive on Monday morning.
Twelve earthmovers, 68 trucks, 73 light commercial vehicles and five chainsaws to fell trees will be used for the drive, Sameeran said.“Cleaning activities are being taken up in all municipalities and town panchayats in the district. The works, which began on Monday, will conclude on Saturday. Around 1,500km of drainages, stormwater drains and channels would be cleaned.”
The workers cleaned 42km of channels on Monday.
The yearly exercise will check flooding in residential areas during the rainy season, a corporation official said. “Clogged channels will lead to flooding in residential areas and become mosquito breeding zones. Moreover, stagnant water will mix with sewage water and pose threat to public health,” he said.
Stormwater drains get clogged due to garbage dumping, the official said. “During the cleaning-up drive, awareness would be created among residents living close to channels to prevent them from spoiling drainages. Mostly, plastic waste is dumped into channels. Apart from household waste, construction and demolition waste are also found.”