Poor get poorer
As always, given the inequities built into the global economic system, the poorest people in the world have been the…
statesman news service
Kolkata, 5 February
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will maintain Tolly’s Nullah from now onwards.
Till date, the canal was being maintained by the state Irrigation and waterways department. The decision was cleared at a meeting of the Mayor-in- Council members today. It will be placed before the councillors at the monthly meeting for final clearance.
The civic authorities alleged that the state Irrigation and waterways department did not carry out dredging at the canal regularly. After becoming Chief Minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee stressed emphasis on the importance of dredging in the channel and taken some initiatives.
The canal has over the years become an open garbage vat. The stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.
Earlier, fresh water would flow in from the river Hooghly during high tide but the condition of Tolly’s Nullah is getting worse by the day. After the construction of the Metro pillars, the inflow of fresh water has stopped completely from the Hooghly. A senior official, KMC, said that the civic department will shoulder the responsibilities of operating, maintaining and repairing of the sewerage lines that are discharging polluted water to the channel. The initiative was taken to prevent the Tolly’s Nullah from the hazardous toxic substances coming out from the drains. Sewerage and drainage lines that are in bad shape will also be upgraded. The KMC will start the work to ensure that polluted water does not flow into the channel.
Mr Debabrata Majumdar, Member, Mayor-in-council (Solid Waste Management), said: "The decision was earlier taken by the state government and the proposal was accepted in the meeting today."
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