The Hindu 30.09.2009
Plans to improve temple tanks
Staff Reporter
| Concrete roads to be laid, stormwater drains constructed |
Photo: K.V.Srinivasan 
Status check: Mayor M. Subramanian and Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni inspect the desilting work at the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple tank in Triplicane on Tuesday. —
CHENNAI: Chennai Corporation will take up various improvement works around temple tanks at a cost of Rs.1 crore. The works would include laying of concrete roads, construction of stormwater drains and installation of streetlights.
Briefing mediapersons after inspecting the desilting of Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple tank in Triplicane on Tuesday, Mayor M.Subramanian said that so far Rs.2 crore had been spent in the last two and a half years on such works around 36 temples. This year alone Rs.3.50 lakh had been spent towards construction of SWD diversion near the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple.
Around 150 workers of the Chennai Corporation took part in the desilting operation of the tank in Triplicane, which had about 2 feet of silt.
Members of the Srinivas Youngmen’s Association, a non-governmental organisation, which has been maintaining the tank for the past 10 years, said the desilting work began on September 11 at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh. As monsoon was fast approaching, the members had sought the assistance of the civic body, which agreed to desilt.
Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni was also present during the inspection.
Residents, who had gathered at the spot, urged that granite stones and concrete laid on the floor of the tank be removed so that the tank could be restored to its natural state. “This desilting will no doubt allow fresh water storage but it will not help in water percolation,” said a resident.
