Amphibious Weed Harvester Starts Cleaning Ponds In Odisha’s Berhampur City

Berhampur: As part of its sanitation and beautification drive, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) in Odisha’s Ganjam district started cleaning of the water bodies in the city with an amphibious weed harvester vessel machine.

The machine, Truxor T-50 of Swedish make, was began its work first in Beda Bandha pond situated on 33 acre in presence of Berhampur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu on Wednesday. The weed harvester cleans 1 acre of weeds in a pond per day and would take at least one month to clean Beda Bandha.

The Rs 3.19-crore Truxor would also clean Agula Bandha, Aina Bandha and Haridakhandi Bandha in the first phase, according to BeMC Commissioner J Sonal. “We have initiated steps not to allow the debris after cleaning the ponds to enter the water body. Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been entrusted with the cleaning, sanitation and beautification of the ponds,” said Berhampur Mayor Sanghamitra Dalei.

Berhampur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda, Berhampur Deputy Mayor Vivek Reddy, all corporators and other officials of the civic body were present.

According to sources, Truxor T-50 is the most advanced machine manufactured by Dorotea Mekaniska.It is used for cleaning weeds and floating debris in lakes, rivers, canals and urban water bodies. Since it is designed as an amphibious machine, it can move in and out of water with ease.

BeMC has already renovated 28 out of 42 water bodies earlier. Berhampur water bodies are also part of the local hydrologic system. It helps keep monsoon waters for the drier periods of the year, to canalize these important flows preventing water logging, inundation and erosion and to ensure the refilling of groundwater. They also support a rich ecosystem.