Desilting of Rockfort Teppakulam begins after 30 years

Trichy: Trichy corporation on Friday commenced full-fledged desilting of Teppakulam tank near Main guard gate belonging to the Rockfort hillock temple complex but leased to the urban local body for 99 years from 1949. The desilting exercise, coming after 30 years, is likely to cost 25 lakh. Corporation has obtained the fund under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of local traders including Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu.The tank spread for about 5.1 acre (20,984sqm) is 3.5m deep and has a capacity to store 73.4 cubic metres of water. “We will engage 10 heavy machinery and 20 trucks for the drive. Teppakulam was last desilted in 1995-96. It would be cleaned in 10 days,” a corporation official said. Corporation commissioner L Madhubalan said that walking tracks, fencing, and stone benches with heritage style streetlights have been planned around the tank bunds after the work. Measures to prevent encroachments and littering will be ensured, he added.Through technical expertise and a study conducted by Archtrust, Trichy, a group of city-based architects, the local body has planned to store surplus rainwater in the tank. Architects will soon submit a detailed project report for implementing unique design ideas to promote green and open public space for residents near the densely populated Rockfort vicinity.