The Chief Minister had evinced a keen interest in ensuring that all temples in the State had rainwater harvesting system to enable their ‘teppams' (tanks) benefit from the rains, said J. Chandrakumar, Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department.
Speaking to The Hindu here on Monday, he said that efforts were being taken on that direction. He was in the city to inspect HR and CE projects under way at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Tirupparankundram, Alagarkoil and Mariamman Teppakulam. He held a review meeting with officials to assess the progress of various projects. In the past three days, he had visited other projects in Virudhunagar and Sivaganga districts.
After inspecting the Mariamman Teppakulam, he said that wastewater was mixing with water being brought through a channel from the Vaigai. To ensure that the tank water remained pure, the channel had been blocked. “We are planning to lay a separate pipeline to bring Vaigai river water to the Teppakulam and we are considering this proposal along with the Madurai Corporation,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress of work in Madurai, he said that around 60 per cent of the eco-park work at Tirupparankundram had been completed with the rest expected to be over in three months. Being funded by the Tourism Department and executed by the HR and CE Department, this Rs. 3.87- crore project involves establishing a musical fountain, landscaping, an open-air theatre, waiting halls and car parking.
Efforts were also under way to remove encroachments from a channel in Nilaiyur, which supplied water to the Subramniaswamy Temple Teppam. Once cleared, water flow would increase to the Teppam, said Mr. Chandrakumar.
The Commissioner was accompanied by P. Jayaraman, temple Executive Officer and Joint Commissioner of HR and CE Department, and other officials.
