The Hindu : Pammal residents show the way

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Pammal residents show the way

By Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI, MARCH 13. For a radius of 5 km around Argeeswarar Temple at Pammal, residents do not have to look too deep for water. Unlike water-starved Chennai residents constantly looking up dry taps, the Pammal folks have it really easy-water is available at a depth of 15 ft. But, only for about three years now.

In 2000, the temple tank was a cesspool. It was being used as a dumping ground, with households close to the tank pumping wastewater into the tank, and consequently, stank.

That was when Mangalam Balasubramanian, a resident of Pammal and the Sankara Magalir Mandram decided to do something about it.

" If you look at history, the catchment area at Pammal used to span atleast 60 acres. The topography was such that rainwater from the western hillock (before Pallavaram) would flow into and accumulate in the Argeeswarar Temple Tank," Ms.Balasubramanian explained. Overflows from the temple tank would spill onto Tirupathangal Eri and then flow into Moongileri and finally, Adyar River.

"It was clear that desilting of the tank held the solution to the area's water problems. It became a mission to clean up the place," she adds. A survey of the suburb was first commissioned and once a sketch was ready, members of the Mandram, working with residents, made an application to the Chief Minister's cell. However, eager to get started before the Government allotted money, 10 residents got together, pooled in Rs.10,000 each, and started dredging the tank.

"Unless residents get involved, local development works will not work," S.Visvanathan, another resident, who was involved in the project from the very beginning, said. With the initial contribution coming up to Rs.1 lakh, money started pouring in from other quarters. A door-to-door collection in the area yeilded Rs. 7 lakhs, the local tanneries pitched in with Rs.1.5 lakhs, students of Sankara School raised Rs. 2 lakhs, a builder gave Rs. 2 lakhs and Rotary Club, Rs.50.000.

The tank was desilted in record time of two-and-a-half months. In its new avtar, the tank had a maximum depth of 10 ft and stored clear water. "It was providential that after the Kanchi Acharya dedicated the tank to the public in December 2001, there was heavy rain. The tank filled up rapidly and the results were almost immediately apparent. The level in the water table increased. Ground water in the area, which was foul smelling and contaminated, became soft." Ms.Balasubramanian said. "We could even cook `daal' with the tap water!" a resident exclaimed.

A settlement tank, which comprised one fourth of the whole area, was constructed at one end, to filter the bath and wastewater that flows in. It was then time to embellish the good work done by cleaning up the tank. It was decided to build a compound wall around the tank, and line the perimeter with a `walker's path' and plant medicinal and flowering shrubs and trees alongside.

"The atmosphere is really pleasant, with cool breeze from the tank blowing across the area," Mr.Visvanathan said. "But, the increase in the water table is the greatest advantage. When I sunk a well last week, water gushed up at 8 ft!"

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