Even as Tamil Nadu demands much-needed water from neighbouring Karnataka, people in this state are renovating disused water tanks in temples in an effort to conserve the precious resource
The coastal landscape of Tamil Nadu is dotted with temples. Around 4,000 temples traditionally had water tanks that were used for various rituals. The tanks also served as natural aquifers and helped recharge groundwater.
Over the years, however, many of these tanks have gone out of use. Overflowing mounds of silt and garbage have replaced the water in them.
Now, following sustained campaigns by voluntary organisations and departments in charge of water distribution and use, authorities in Chennai have decided to restore around 40 major temple tanks in the city. The aim is to convert the tanks into catchments for rainwater harvesting.
Hindu religious and charitable endowments in charge of the 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 and Kapaleewswar temples. In Tiruchirapally, a tank at the Rockfort temple is also being kept clean.
Municipality authorities and the water department have initiated projects to de-silt 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 storm-water drains on state and national highways and major road networks into the temple 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 working to revive the tanks, which are now completely dry.
The Rotary Club first renovated the tanks 10 years ago, but because of the lack of maintenance they soon turned into 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 the memories of local residents, some of whom say that until the 1970s one could even fish in the temple tanks.
“The film is the first step in our community awareness programme,” says P T Krishnan, an INTACH official.
“The implementation of the rainwater harvesting scheme will automatically raise the tank water level and recharge groundwater in the area,” Krishnan adds.
Chennai corporation chief engineer M Bhoopal and deputy mayor Karate Thyagarajan are overseeing the clean-up operation at the Marundeeswara temple.
“At least four other temple tanks, including the Parthasarathy temple tank, are being cleaned for rainwater harvesting,” says Bhoopal.
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-foot 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,” says Bhoopal.
Another voluntary organisation, 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 help from the community.
“It is critical to protect conventional water resources like tanks and ponds for sustainable development, and stop surface water run-off into the sea, through the development of micro watersheds and check-dams,” says coordinator R Anbumani.
Pasumai Thayagam showcased its efforts at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September and received an enthusiastic response.
Source: [I]The Times of India, [/I]October 17, 2002
