Sacred tank is now a cesspool

Environment issue

What was once a sacred tank (pushkarni), has now reduced to be a cesspool of garbage, in the city.

The Venugopalaswami temple tank at the Tekal Circle, belongs to the Venugopalaswami Temple Trust. During the Venugopalaswami Teppotsav, the place attracts hundreds of devotees, as it is a sacred tank. But today, it stands a cesspool of filth.
Among a very few temple tanks in the town, Venugopalaswami tank is dying a slow death.

For, the trust is not making any efforts to clean the tank and rejuvenate it. It is said a commercial complex will come up on the site, hence, no efforts are being made to infuse life into it.

Apart from construction debris that are dumped here, the tank has become an easy way for the residents living nearby, to dispose all kinds of waste.

Then deputy commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena had prepared an action plan to revive the tank, but nothing has been implemented yet. He had put up a hoarding clearly mentioning punishment to those spoiling the tank near the tank. But this seems to have had no effect on the people.

It is learnt that the trust has gained support from neighbouring traders in covering the tank with waste materials to allow a commercial complex to come up on the land.
Devotees visiting the temple fear that the pollutants might spill on to road, once the monsoon begins. “This poses threat of outbreak of epidemic,” say a few devotees here.

They urge the authorities concerned to clean up the tank to ensure hygiene in the area.
Chief Minister, during his recent visit to the city, stated that revival of water bodies is the only way to check water crisis in the city. The district administration has initiated measures to rejuvenate water bodies in the district. But have turned a blind eye to the tank, which is right in the middle of the city, rue the residents.

On this World Environment Day, the residents hope that the day would give enough reasons for the authorities concerned to clean up the tank.