Author: IANS
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 17, 2002
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=25486716
Even as Tamil Nadu demands much-needed
water from neighbouring Karnataka, people in this state are renovating
disused water tanks in temples in their efforts to conserve the precious
resource.
The aim is to convert these tanks
into catchments for rainwater harvesting.
The coastal landscape of Tamil Nadu
is dotted with temples, and around 4,000 temples traditionally had water
tanks that were used for various rituals. These also served as natural
aquifers and helped recharge neighbourhood groundwater.
But over the years many have gone
out of use and overflowing mounds of silt and garbage have replaced the
water these tanks once used to house.
Now, however, things are changing.
Following sustained campaigns by NGOs and departments that are in charge
of water distribution and use, authorities in Chennai have decided to restore
around 40 major temple tanks in this city.
Hindu religious and charitable endowments
in charge of temples have begun a clean-up act in some major temples and
called for tenders to repair the tanks.
The drive began with the Parthasarathy
temple and Kapaleewswar temple here. And in Tiruchirapally, a tank in the
Rockfort temple is being kept clean.
Municipality authorities and the
water department have also initiated projects to desilt the tanks with
the help of volunteers from the community.
The roads and highways department
too has got into the act, studying the feasibility of diverting rainwater
from the storm-water drains on the state and national highways and major
road networks into these temple tanks.
Various bodies are working together
to bring the water back to the tanks.
In the case of the Marundeeswara
temple, a 10th century Siva temple in Thiruvanmiyur, the Indian National
Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and the Rotary Club are toiling
to revive the tanks, which are bone dry now.
The Rotary Club had first renovated
the tanks 10 years ago, but because of a lack of maintenance they became
garbage dumps for a vegetable market nearby.
INTACH has even produced a short
film on its efforts so far and is showing it free to local communities.
The film records memories of local residents, some of whom even say that
until the 1970s, one could fish in temple tanks.
"The film is the first step in our
community awareness programme," said P.T. Krishnan, an INTACH official.
"The implementation of the rainwater
harvesting scheme will automatically raise the tank water level and recharge
ground water in the area," said Krishnan.
Chennai Corporation chief engineer
M. Bhoopal is overseeing the cleanup operation at the Marundeeswara temple
with deputy mayor Karate Thyagarajan.
"At least four other temple tanks,
including the Parthasarathy temple tank, are being cleared for rain water
harvesting," Bhoopal said.
The Marundeeswara temple is a test
site. Every Saturday and Sunday, for several weeks now, dozens of volunteers
armed with shovels descend into the 1,60,000-square feet tank and work
to clean it for four-five hours.
"Soon the surplus flow will be able
to meet the needs of this water- starved but densely populated region,"
Bhoopal said.
Another NGO Pasumai Thayagam, or
green motherland, is also initiating efforts to restore temple tanks and
adopt an integrated approach to water management.
The group has taken up the task
of restoring and rehabilitating around 1,000 tanks and ponds throughout
the state with community participation.
"It is critical to protect conventional
water resources like tanks and ponds for sustainable development and stop
surface water run-off in to the sea, through development of micro watersheds
and check dams," said coordinator R. Anbumani.
Pasumai Thayagam had showcased its
efforts at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg
in September and received an enthusiastic response.
