Vaigai river cleaning work underway for Chithirai festival

Madurai: Preparations are in full swing to clean the Vaigai river ahead of the Chithirai festival celebrations in Madurai, particularly the descent of Lord Kallazhagar, which is scheduled for May 1.In Alwarpuram area, at the spot where Lord Kallazhagar traditionally descends into the Vaigai, the platforms on which he will descend are being prepared by the Madurai corporation. Maintenance and cleaning drives are also being conducted in a joint effort by the public works department (PWD) as well as sanitation workers from the corporation. "We are stepping up efforts to ensure that the river is cleaned at every point the processions pass through," said a PWD official. He added that they are also taking emergency measures to ensure that all sewage treatment plants (STPs) are running at full capacity until the Chithirai festival is completed. "Some maintenance and repair work has been put on hold to ensure that the STPs do not go offline during this time," he added.Residents of Alwarpuram welcomed the drive. "Many of us were concerned about how the festival will be celebrated when this is the state of the river," said Murugesan, a resident of the area, referring to the bad smell emanating from the river. "The cleaning drive will improve the condition of the river, but more needs to be done," he added, saying that desilting has not been done in the area for many years and that the water hyacinths need to be removed as well. "Hopefully the cleaning drive will continue after the celebrations," Murugesan said.Corporation workers and ambulance drivers are also practising routes to take in case of emergencies during the procession. A corporation official said that drinking water facilities and other amenities will be made available during the procession days.