4 days ago
Drain desilting works underway in Ongole, Nellore
The Municipal Corporations of Nellore and Ongole have initiated works to clear blockages of drains to prevent rainwater stagnation and mosquito menace in the cities due the early monsoon arrival this year. The desilting works at major and minor drains are likely to complete in both the cities before the onset of rainy season.
Ongole Municipal Corporation (OMC) had already initiated the desilting of drains two months ago. Recently, Ongole City Mayor had launched a special sanitation programme in five divisions of the city as per the instructions of MLA Damacharla Janardhana Rao. This special drive will be held for 5-6 days in each ward.
Speaking to The Hindu, OMC Commissioner Dr. Koduru Venkateswara Rao said, 'Using heavy machinery, the desiltation works are currently underway at Pothuraju Canal near Sathyanarayanapuramu. Totally, we are spending ₹1.6 crore for desilting the drainages of 105 km distance. The works are expected to be completed by 5 June'.
Similarly, Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) Public Health Department has undertaken a programme to desilt all the canals, which have been unpaved for a long time due to ramps, to make them suitable for irrigation. As part of this drive, the drainages across 20 divisions are being desilted to avoid waterlogging during the rainy season.
'The irrigation department is spending ₹1.72 crore for desilting the canals. Apart from that, the NMC has taken up the desilting of major drains with ₹5 crore, and minor drains with nearly about ₹2 crore in both Nellore Rural and City constituencies. The works will be completed by 15 July before commencement of rains,' NMC Commissioner Y.O. Nandan told The Hindu.
Unlike other districts of Andhra Pradesh, the seasonal rainfall begins in Nellore due to North-East monsoon during the months of October–December. Presently, the district is receiving a spell of rains caused by early South-West monsoon. With its impact, a few streets in the city had to face sanitation problems which was swiftly monitored by the NMC.
