As part of a social initiative, the city police have stepped in to revive the three-millennia-old Siddeswara tank in Hanamkonda that is lost under a pile of garbage.
The Siddeswara tank spread over about four acre abutting the historic Siddeswara temple was in state of utter neglect for decades and it became a big garbage dump. People feared to walk through the wild undergrowth as anti-social elements frequented the area.
The tank would come alive once a year — during Ganesh Nimmajjan.
Picnic spot
The City Police adopted the tank as part of the Mission Kakatiya programme and recently spruced up the entire tank. Now they propose to construct a beautiful bund, clear wild buses and make a walkers zone and play zone for kids.
Speaking to The Hindu , City Police Commissioner G. Sudheer Babu said people believed that the tank was 3,000 years old and was neglected for various reasons. “This entire stretch around Siddeswara and Padmakshi temple are violence prone areas because of wild environs. It will now change altogether because of development being unveiled around them,” he said.
The district administration proposes to beautify Padmakshi tank and Bhadrakali tank bund that are close to the Siddeswara tank. Once done, the entire area will acquire a new look. The officials propose to turn the area into a picnic spot where people could spend their evening hours.
People’s participation
Mr. Sudheer Babu said they propose to build a small park and a health centre close to Siddeswara tank. “I appeal to people to own up the tank after we develop it. Without people’s participation, nothing will succeed. We urge them to cultivate a sense of responsibility and not to throw garbage. They should maintain it,” the Police Commissioner said.
The police and the district administration is planning to set up temporary tanks for Ganesh Nimmajjan like in Hyderabad. This would spare these ancient tanks from garbage, the Commissioner said.
