The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Row over tank renovation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Row over tank renovation

Swahilya

TANK TROUBLE: Residents gather to back the desilting work at Parasurameswarar temple tank. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: The renovation and desilting work of the Parasurameswarar Temple at Ayanavaram was mired in a controversy on Tuesday, with one group wanting to go ahead with the renovation and another demanding a stop to it.

A massive gathering of local residents was behind the DMK Councillor, V. Vasu, who championed the cause of renovating the tank. The tank falls in two Corporation wards 55 and 56. Mr. Vasu is the Councillor of Ward 56.

R. Mangaiyarkarasi, Councillor of ward 55,said the desilting work should not proceed as the land belonged to the Collectorate and not the Endowments department. "Rs. 11 lakhs that was spent on the tank renovation was sponsored entirely by me and the pending work requires another Rs. 9 lakhs," he said.

Ayanavaram police had to intervene and stop the work until the two groups settled the issue amicably. Vepery Deputy Commissioner G. Karthikeyan said, "The HR and CE had issued orders two years ago, but since another group objected, clarification has to be made with the Revenue authorities and depending on their decision the work can begin or stop accordingly."

But despite police intervention, scores of residents got into the tank and the earthmovers and trucks were back in action till late in the evening.

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