The Hindu : `Project crucial for tackling water crisis'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 12, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Project crucial for tackling water crisis'

CHENNAI, JAN. 11. Temple authorities and residents have taken up the task of renovating the Dhandeeswarar temple tank at Velachery after a gap of about 40 years.

The tank, which was used as a garbage dumping yard till a few years ago, has been taken up for renovation by several like-minded organisations, including the Velachery Dhandeeswarar Thiruvarutsangam and the Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations. The estimated cost of the project, which was started in September 2003, is about Rs. 40 lakhs.

Residents recalled that bushes in the tank were overgrown and it was filled with sewage till 2001. The last time the tank was desilted and cleaned was 20 years ago, said the temple executive officer, R. Kesavarajulu. The situation had worsened as the groundwater table rapidly fell in the area. Rejuvenating the temple tank has, therefore, become crucial to tackle the water crisis, he said.

S. Kumararaja, secretary, Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations, said the tank was 50 ft. deep and spread over 30,000 sq.ft. When water begins to collect in the tank, groundwater would get recharged in several areas, including Dhandeeswaram Nagar, Gandhi Road and Vijaya Nagar. At present, the level in the inner well is about 20 ft.

According to members of the federation, protecting the tank would serve many purposes. It will be a good source of potable water and for recharging the groundwater level. The tank can also be converted into a tourist attraction by introducing boating and celebrating float festivals, they said.

V. Shankar, councillor of Ward 153, said Rs. 3 lakhs had been spent on renovating, deepening and desilting of the tank and strengthening the walls of the inner well. Metro water officials promised that work to provide rainwater harvesting facilities in the tank would begin in February and storm water drains from the nearby areas would be linked in six months.

The Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Mutt, Sri Vijayendra Saraswati, visited the temple today.

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