Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) taken up the mammoth work of cleaning the stretch of Tapi river starting from Valak to weir-cum-causeway which is infested with water hyacinth. The vegetation is not only affecting the quality of water, but also hampering the drawing of water from the river.The civic body has taken up cleaning near seven intake well sites and weir cum causeway on priority.HK Khatwani, additional city engineer said, “As a priority, we have cleaned up 1,000 metre periphery area at seven intake wells located at Rander, Katargam, Mota Varachha, Sarthana and at Valak.”The cleaners have set up a fabricated restriction panels in 1,000 metres around wells and set up an aerator in the middle. SMC has also taken up cleaning up of water hyacinth from weir-cum causeway. On Tuesday, a deweeder machine, eight boats and one earthmover was deployed for cleaning.Similarly, in the middle portion of river near Sarthana, six boats with earthmovers was deployed for removal of vegetation.“Two more deweeder machines will be added in the first week of December and by the end of December the whole stretch along the river will be cleared of vegetation,” said Khatwani.

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