Tiruchi Corporation steps up desilting of stormwater drains
Corporation workers engaged in manual desilting of drains at Anna Nagar in Tiruchi. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
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Tiruchi Corporation has intensified the desilting of stormwater drains across all five zones of the city as part of its efforts to prevent water stagnation and ensure the smooth flow of rainwater during the monsoon.
Desilting work is currently under way in stormwater drains located across various parts of the city. Manual cleaning is being carried out in narrow drains, particularly in residential areas where the use of machinery is not feasible. The silt removed from the drains, which is temporarily dumped along roadsides, is being cleared simultaneously.
The Corporation has over 1,500 km of roads, of which stormwater drains exist along more than 800 km. Corporation sources said that accumulated silt and blockages in the drains were being removed regularly as part of the ongoing drive. The work is being carried out simultaneously across all five zones.
Permanent sanitary workers have been engaged in regular desilting activities to prevent clogging of drains. They also attend to complaints and grievances received from residents regarding blocked drains and related issues. The workers follow a fixed schedule for desilting. Certain areas require daily cleaning, while others are attended to on alternate days, a senior Corporation official said.
Corporation officials said they are supervising the operations and reviewing the progress of the work on a daily basis to ensure timely completion.
Meanwhile, the Corporation is planning to undertake desilting works in major stormwater drains and canals at an estimated cost of around ₹2 crore. Desilting machinery and excavators will be deployed to remove silt from wider drains. A tender is expected to be floated soon to undertake the work.
However, the civic body generally undertakes desilting works ahead of the monsoon to ensure timely completion. The delay in clearing silt from major channels is now a cause for concern, as residents fear it could lead to flooding and overflowing of water channels during intense rainfall.
Published - July 24, 2026 07:34 pm IST
Source: The Hindu — Cities
