Trichy: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the District Trichy Corporation and administration to submit a report on progress once in six months in the steps taken to install waste disposal into the Uyakondan canal that passes through the city.
NGT has taken the Suo Moto case in July 2020 based on newspaper reports that highlight pollution in the 1,000-year-old Chola-era irrigation canal, which benefits farmers in the Trichy and Thanjavur districts.
The court has appointed a committee consisting of senior officials from the income department, TNPCB, PWD and Trichy Corporation to check the canal and start permanent corrective steps.
To prevent wastewater from entering the canal of around 36 points, the urban local body has proposed the underground drainage project (phase II) under the accruted scheme and smart city mission, the company told the court.
The corporation also proposes to change 30-year-old underground waste in the Uyakondan area and connect the wastewater treated from Trichy Mgmgh to the underground gutter network at a cost of 94.6 lakh.
Quality tests by TNPCB show the presence of E coli in the water, indicating waste in it.
It also shows the dissolved oxygen level of 1.3 mg / L to 4 mg / L, less than permitted above 6 mg / l, making water not suitable for bathing.