The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Blueprint to revive temple tank in Alandur ready

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Blueprint to revive temple tank in Alandur ready

K. Manikandan

— Photo: K. Manikandan.

SET FOR NEW LIFE: What was once a tank of the Subramania Swamy Temple in Alandur is now being used as parking lot for vehicles.

TAMBARAM: The Alandur Municipality has prepared a blueprint for rejuvenating an old temple tank as part of a rain harvesting improvement scheme.

The Subramania Swamy Temple in Alandur is more than 100 years old and so is the water tank opposite to it, residents of the locality said.

More than 25 years ago, the tank was lost owing to dumping of construction debris and also scooped-out mud dug out from construction sites. Today, there is little indication of the water tank; the surface has been levelled and the spot is used as a parking lot for commercial vehicles.

Recently, the Alandur Municipality decided to rejuvenate the temple tank not only to restore it to its original status but also as part of efforts to tap rainwater. A sum of Rs. 8 lakh has been allotted for the purpose and the work was expected to begin soon, N.Mahesan, municipal engineer, said.

The work would be executed from the local body’s general funds. “The tank had a fairly large quantity of water and its quality too was good," said Mahendran, whose family has been living near the temple for three generations.

Incidentally, the locality has many houses that transport visitors to an era gone by.

Subramania Swamy Koil Street is dotted with beautiful houses built several decades ago and village houses with long corridors. Mr. Mahendran recalled that there was a ‘Saneeshwaran’ deity besides the tank and this idol too had vanished. Devotees visiting the temple would first wash their feet in the tank . His neighbours said an excavation at the spot would reveal steps on one side of the tank.

The municipality plans to scoop out earth, carry out improvement works and also provide landscaping. If it was developed as a rainwater harvesting centre, it would help in recharging groundwater in localities nearby, Mr. Mahesan said.

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