About 1,20,000 dwellers of Rangpur town have started getting benefit following renovation of century-old Shyama Sundari canal. About 70 per cent of the renovation works on the 14km-long canal has been completed at a cost of about Tk 16 crore. Rest of the work is expected to be completed by November this year. Re-excavation on the canal from Rangpur cantonment to Shapla point have been completed, concrete piling set, grass carpeting at some points completed while tree plantation will begin soon, said Rangpur Municipality Chairman Abdur Rouf Manik. The people of Rangpur town had continued movement for about two decades demanding renovation of the century-old canal, which served as the main outlet for sanitation of the town. The canal had been in a very miserable condition as some of the people living beside it grabbed its land to construct establishments, and dumped dirt on it. As a result, sanitation system of the town had been broken down. Water stagnation at the low-lying places of the town had been everyday feature during the rainy season. The canal turned abode of germs of contagious diseases. In the wake of movement the government at last took the decision to renovate and repair the canal. Ministry of LGRD in the 2007-2008 fiscal year sanctioned Tk 28 crorer for the purpose. Rangpur municipality along with the district administration and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is implementing the project. Earlier, the district administration and Rangpur municipality with the aid of joint forces removed about 200 establishments on either side of the canal. Although it rained heavily several days this rainy season, water did not stagnate anywhere in the town and it is the result of renovation of the canal, Deputy Commissioner Khondoker Atiar Rahman said. Four parks will be set up on sides of Shyama canal, Rangpur municipality Chairman Abdur Rouf Manik said.