The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tiruvottiyur temple tank full after 16 years

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 30, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tiruvottiyur temple tank full after 16 years

Kannal Achuthan

Temples well-maintained and kept free of sewage now source of water for localities

CHENNAI: The Vadivudai Amman temple tank in Tiruvottiyur is brimming with water after more than a decade. Residents near the tank are pleased as the groundwater level has also shot up.

Many temple tanks in the city have got a new lease of life after the rains. Those that have been fairly well-maintained and kept free of sewage are now a bountiful water source for the localities.

"People say that the Vadivudai Amman temple tank has filled up after 16 years. We hope to protect the tank by periodic cleaning and removal of any blockage in the inlet channels," said D. Kaveri, Executive Officer, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department.

As community participation was also crucial to preserve the tank, local temple volunteers would clean the tank, which is 286 feet long and 280 feet broad, Ms. Kaveri said.

At present, the run-off rainwater from North Mada Street and Sannidhi Nellika Pandara Street is collected in the tank.

Sewage pools

The Chennai Metropolitan Area has about 124 tanks and at least 50 of these are located in the city. However, many temple tanks have become sewage pools or garbage dumps due to neglect.

"Inlet channels are often blocked by construction material. Also, when sewers don't work, the sewage is simply diverted into the stormwater network which may be linked to the temple tank," said Srinivasan, convener of the Tambaram Taluk Tank and Groundwater Protection Forum.

Funds raised

Realising the need to clear inlets, Tiruvanmiyur residents recently pooled in funds to clean up the path that led water to the Marundeeswarar temple tank.

"Local participation is crucial. Residential associations must get together in the summer and decide how best the water can be recharged," said M. Karmegam, former director of Anna University's Centre for Water Resources.

This could prevent stagnation in low-level areas. If a proper inlet channel was created for the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar tank, inundation in Mandaveli would reduce.

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