In namakku naamey style, community on a mission to Chola-era Uyyakondan canal

Built by Raja Raja Cholan and later renovated by Kulothunga Cholan, the canal originates from the Cauvery near Pettavaithalai area and merges with Valavanthankottai tank. Unabated dumping of garbage and inflow of untreated sewage in recent years had made the canal much polluted. 

It was clear that something had to change, and it happened last December when a friendly chat among a group of five persons, namely Narasimha Rao, A R Vijayakumar, S Aravindh Krishnan, R Manoj Dharmar and Mahesh Krishna, made them resolve to transform the waterway.  With just seven persons initially volunteering for the cause, the group set out on their mission. “It was a challenge for us in the beginning, but we did not lose heart and continued to rope in volunteers on every Sunday. Much to our surprise, it evoked a huge response from students as well as from the local community,” said Manoj Dharmar.

With the participation of conservancy workers of the Tiruchy Corporation, the volunteers made a good beginning by clearing degradable and non-degradable waste found on the canal banks. Since then, there has been no looking back for the forum.

They assemble at 6 am on every Sunday and clean the canal up to 8 am. The support to the campaign has swelled considerably with many locals, morning walkers and students joining the cleaning exercise. Around 180 volunteers took part in the exercise a few weeks ago.

“We do not have any posts like president, secretary and treasurer. Hence, the members feel free to put forth their ideas, which are then executed if it helps the cause,” said Manoj.

By sourcing material contribution from like-minded people, the forum has strengthened the bank and erected a fence. A board with information on the canal has been kept nearby. 

The forum is set to launch a mobile application for the canal in a week’s time. The app will have provisions to upload photos and videos on initiatives taken by the citizen group and convey them to a large section of people.