[1]The heavy summer rains over the past few days have affected the pre-monsoon drain cleaning works initiated by the corporation. The desilting of canals and drains has come to a standstill in the last one week.
Though the local body has earmarked Rs 5 crore for cleaning, which is an all time high allocation, the works may not be completed before the onset of monsoon. This may result in heavy flooding once it starts raining continuously.
“For the last few days, drains and big canal cleaning works have been affected by the heavy summer showers. In many divisions, the councillors have asked the workers to stop desilting as whatever’s done during heavy rains will not be effective,” said Soumini Jain, chairperson of the works committee.
Meanwhile, the opposition councillors alleged that it was impossible to finish the cleaning work before the onset of monsoon.
“The city will be flooded if the desilting and removal of weeds are not carried out before the rains. If the present situation is any indicator, the next monsoon will be disastrous for the city,” said N.A. Shafeek, opposition councillor.
However, Soumini Jain is confident that all cleaning works which have been held up midway can be completed before the monsoon.
“Desilting of big canals is yet to start. Though tendering process has been completed, it is not sure whether all the work can be completed before June,”’ she said.
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