The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Resolution on tank protection passed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 04, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Resolution on tank protection passed

Kannal Achuthan

Shopping complex plan opposed

BED OF CONTROVERSY: The water hyacinth-filled temple tank in Okkiyam Thoraipakkam Panchayat. — Photo:Shaju John

CHENNAI: Residents of Okkiyam - Thoraipakkam panchayat, south of Chennai, demanded the protection of a local temple tank during a gram sabha meeting held on January 26. They passed a resolution for the desilting and maintenance of the tank.

The decision on the tank, however, rests with the Madras High Court, which has reserved orders in a case of converting the tank into a shopping complex.

The Gangaiamman temple tank, also known as Rettai kulam, was surrendered by the Panchayat and the Kancheepuram District Collectorate to the Highways Department in order to build a shopping complex. These shops would be given to traders who had to give up their land for the I.T. corridor project. A Government order was issued to this effect.

A local ward councillor of Thoraipakkam filed a petition in the High Court challenging the proposed takeover.

Ward councillor Susetha in her public interest litigation petition said, "Okkiyam Thoraipakkam village was once a water surplus village having 20 tanks... but today has only five tanks, that too, in a bad shape... The existing tank must be protected and preserved."

She said the tank had become a place for dumping garbage but the village residents had opposed any proposal to convert the tank into a public utility.

In the counter-affidavit filed on behalf of respondents, the Highways Department said that the tank was an abandoned one being used as a dumping yard and a sewage collection pond. "The use of the abandoned tank for putting up a shopping complex affects the interest of none," it added.

The Highways Department also stressed that the Panchayat had agreed to the takeover.

In a reply, Ms. Susetha stated the tank, which had been filled up in the recent rains, would help in the improvement of the water table and mitigate floods. "If the tank was desilted and maintained properly... it would prevent rain water from inundating the residential areas of Okkiyam - Thoraipakkam village," she said.

Orders reserved

Following this, the Madras High Court asked the Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, to ascertain the status of the tank.

The report, dated January 4, submitted to the court, said the tank had a catchment area of 26,781 sq. metre, with present capacity of 1,861 cubic metre. The annual run-off potential was 8,034 cubic metre.

But the report said as there were three other tanks in the area, the recharge contribution of the temple tank would be "insignificant".

Conversely, local residents said the tank would benefit the water table, if maintained well.

The First Bench heard the case and has reserved orders.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail