Whenever they pass through Raju Street in Ayanavaram, a group of children from the neighbourhood make sure to watch out for the Kilpauk Water Distribution Station there. It is not the mammoth structure that draws their attention every time, but three large beehives that hang in perfect balance between two pillars of the distribution station.
Lifeline
Housed inside the historic Indo-Saracenic-styled Kilpauk Water Works, the 80-feet-tall distribution station is one of the city’s lifelines supplying water to areas like Ayanavaram, Anna Nagar and a portion of Villivakkam since January this year when the actual operations of the station began.
But, the interesting part of this masonry structure is the honeybees one finds there
“The honeybees have been here since the distribution station (a large overhead tank) was constructed six years ago. As they don’t disturb us, we left them there on the top of the tank,” an official with the Chennai Metrowater told The Hindu.
There are a dozen structures, including underground tanks and overhead tanks, on the premises of the 1914-built Kilpauk Water Works and of them, the Kilpauk Water Distribution Station is the tallest structure making it ideal for honeybees to build their hives. The station is surrounded by tall trees with large branches providing the much-needed shade to residents and also for honeybees.
“Even during our routine inspections, we can’t reach the area where the beehives are located. So, they never get disturbed,” the official said.
A few years ago, the station had only one beehive but now it has three. “Unless we disturb the honeybees, they don’t harm us,” said K. Sadasivam, a resident in Purasawalkam.
The station is surrounded by tall trees providing an ideal environment for the honey bees
