The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Desilting of temple tank mired in political controversy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Desilting of temple tank mired in political controversy

Staff Reporter

Political roadblock threatens to derail citizens' initiative to renovate water body It has also not been spared by land-grabbers and encroachers like many a temple tank in Chennai.

CHENNAI: The water at the Annapoorani tank was once the Brahma Theertham used for the ablutions of the idol at Theenda Thirumeniyon Parasuramalingeswarar temple in Ayanavaram.

Today, the temple tank is anything but pure, having become a repository for the sullage and sewage of the houses around Ayanavaram.

It has not also been spared by land-grabbers and encroachers like many a temple tank in Chennai.

However, with the commitment of the local public, including the Exnora Innovators' Club of Ayanavaram and DMK Councillor V. Vasu, sanction was obtained from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. In a letter issued in June 2003, the department gave the go-ahead for desilting and renovating the temple tank. However, while one `L' of the tank bund falls in the jurisdiction of AIADMK Councillor R. Mangaiyarkarasi, the other `L' of the 230 ft. by 220 ft. tank falls in the area of DMK Councillor V. Vasu.

"While the people cutting across party lines and local residents want to see progress in renovation of the temple tank, the Councillor has been objecting ever since we began the work in 2003," said Mr. Vasu.

Last month, when the excavators were at work to deepen the tank, Ms. Mangaiyarkarasi said the work should not proceed as the land was under the control of the Collector. Though work began with the consent of the HR and CE department, the matter was referred to the Collector's office, the Tahsildar and the local police station.

Collector's assurance

As the problem continued, K. Ramadoss, president of the Exnora Innovator's Club, Ayanavaram, called on the Chennai District Collector, who assured him on July 1 that the renovation work would continue. He said he would issue suitable directions to the Perambur Tahsildar and the Ayanavaram Inspector of Police.

Mr. Vasu, who has taken up the renovation of the tank as his pet project, said: "This is the tank where we used to bathe as children. I was born and brought up here." Pipes to be let into the tank have connected rainwater run-off from 25 streets and 20 feet of land has been scooped out, though more remains to be done. "If rains and other impediments such as the present crisis do not crop up, the work will be completed in three months," Mr. Vasu said.

As the ancient temple gets ready for a Kumbhabhishekam, residents hope the tank renovation will be completed in time.

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