The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Veeranam tank `has good tourism potential'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 06, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Veeranam tank `has good tourism potential'

A.V. Ragunathan

Tank can become an ideal place for water sports and a theme park

CUDDALORE: The Veeranam tank has excellent tourism potential. A section of ayacutdars feels that the vast stretch of the water body, besides serving as an important drinking water and irrigation source, can be promoted as an attractive tourist spot.

With Chennai Metrowater officials taking efforts to maintain the storage at a comfortable level for most part of the year, the tank could be an ideal place for starting water sports and setting up a theme park.

The idea has come from the farming community that has been consistently opposing the indiscriminate exploitation of the tank water. The president of the Kollidam-Keealani Paasana Vivasayigal Sangham, K.V.Kannan, has been mooting the idea on many a forum.

Historical background

Mr. Kannan told The Hindu that the tank had a hoary history dating back to the Chola dynasty. Parandaga Cholan-I (from 907 to 935 AD) took interest in improving the water sources at and around Chidambaram, because the Cholas were staunch devotees of Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram.

Parandaga Cholan retrieved spiritual literature such as Thevaram from the locked precincts of the Chidambaram temple and created the "Veeranarayanan Chathurvedamangalam" (now known as Kattumannarkoil), about 25 km from Chidambaram, where he settled down Vedic scholars and exponents.

To cater for the drinking and irrigation needs, Parandaga Cholan constructed the tank, spreading over 38.85 sq.km.

Catchment area

Perambalur district was the main catchment area for the tank, as rainwater used to drain into the tank through the Sengal Odai and Karuvattu Odai. Surplus water of the Vellar-Rajan Channel also flowed into the tank.

An important source was the Cauvery, which flowed from Mettur to Coleroon and from there to Kollidam and then via the 22-km long Vadavar to the tank.

Uses of silt

If the tank was desilted to the depth of about three feet, its capacity could be increased manifold. The silt could be used for laying two-lane roads along the east, west and south bunds and also for creating an "island" in the middle of the tank to serve as a children's park and a theme park.

Mr. Kannan said if the Chennai-Kumbakonam bus services were run via Sethiathope, Veernam tank bund and Kattumannarkoil, it would provide easy access to tourists. This move would pave way for economic development and create job opportunities in the region, he said.

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