Buckle Canal to be revived at a cost of Rs.25 crore in Tuticorin

The municipal administration here has come out with an ‘interim detailed project report’ to revive the glory of historic Buckle canal passing through the heart of the town, where free flow of water is blocked now.

The report, which was prepared with the technical assistance from Wilbur Smith Associates Private Limited, Chennai, envisage improvement of the 5.88 km long waterway starting from ‘Mundram Mile’ and ends at the ‘Gulf of Mannar’, on an estimated outlay of Rs.25 crore.

The canal which was constructed by the Britons to drain the rainwater into the sea to prevent flooding of the town, has been dying for the last few decades owing to indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes into it.

Official sources told The Hindu that the document was drafted after making scientific assessment of deficiencies of the existing features and alignment of the canal.

A manuscript suggests methodology to overcome the inadequacies pertaining to environment, topography, hydrology, traffic bottlenecks and social parameters.

The study has suggested a constant width of 12.9 metre all through the course of canal by carrying out deweeding, desilting and removal of encroachments.

According to the report, 224 permanent and 196 temporary encroached structures have come up along the canal over the last few years.

“Presently, the width of canal varies from 6 metre to 28.8 metre at different points,” sources said.

Sources said that new minor bridges and causeways would be constructed at 11 places as part of the scheme.

Landscaping will be established and roads will be constructed alongside the canal to beautify its surroundings.

Once the project has been completed, fencing will be provided to prevent solid waste being dumped into the canal and thereby help the canal to retain its aesthetic look. Municipal sources said the project would generate proper drainage facilities and would avoid hardships to the residents owing to inundation.

Source: The Hindu