Despite the city getting copious amount of summer showers over the last one month, the sprawling Vandiyur tank still remains dry. This despite the fact that many other tanks in the city which include the Madakulam tank and Tirupparankundram tank are at least filled to half their capacity.
Over the last few days alone, the city has received heavy showers in the evening and rainfall of more than 80 mm has been recorded in Madurai.
Residents in Anna Nagar, KK Nagar, Gomathipuram, Melamadai and Tahsildhar Nagar, areas near the tank, said that they were blessed with high groundwater levels in the past due to the waterbody.
“In over thirty years of living here, we have not seen the tank as dry as it has been in the last two years. We expected the tank to fill up at least after the rains this year, but nothing has happened. We are forced to buy water due to the low groundwater levels and scarcity,” said a resident of Lake View Garden Street situated close to the tank.
Senior citizens who go for early morning and evening walks at the Sundaram park situated near the banks of the waterbody said that they were waiting to see the tank filled with water.
“If the tank becomes full, it will drastically bring down the temperature here and make the park an excellent place for visiting as the view will be beautiful as well,” said J. Visalakshi, a resident of K.K. Nagar.
A senior official from the Public Works Department said Collector had asked for the inflow channels into the tank to be de-silted.
“There is a separate regulator for the tank from the Periyar main canal as well which is slightly damaged. Repairs will be carried out on that as well and as per the Collector’s order, the tank will be brought to Full Tank Level condition at the earliest,” he said.
