The Uyyakondan canal is being blocked by the growth of water weeds. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath more-in Unchecked growth of water hyacinth in Uyyakondan canal has raised concern among farmers ahead of the release of water for irrigation from Mettur Reservoir. While the farmers are of the view that the weed growth will hinder the water flow, city residents complain that the city stretch of the canal has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Though there is no water flow in the canal at the moment, sewage water let into the canal from residential colonies and commercial establishment along the city limit remains stagnant between Puthur Weir to Palakarai and Varaganeri. Hyacinth has invaded almost the entire stretch of canal in the city and continues to proliferate at a rapid speed. Letting of open drains and household sewage into the canal is said to be the main reason for the largescale invasion of hyacinth, an aquatic plant that rises above the surface of water as much as one meter in height. It was only in November last that the Public Works department removed the weeds from most parts of Uyyakondan canal in the city limits. The canal, which sported a clean look for a few weeks during the period when water was flowing for irrigation, has once again been occupied by the species, one of the fastest growing aquatic plants. Citing the fast growth of the plant, farmers demand that a permanent solution be found to check the growth of hyacinth. Raising the issue, Minister for Tourism Vellamandi N. Natarajan, who participated in a programme in the city a few days ago, asked PWD and Tiruchi City Corporation to remove the weeds immediately. With the impending release of water in the canal, farmers seek urgent action. Koundampatti R. Subramanian, deputy secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said the Uyyakondan canal fed 36 tanks in Tiruchi and Thanjavur district’. And water would reach them only if the invasive species and bushes grown in the canal were weeded out.

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