Tanks beautification remains distant dream

​Tirupati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s pet project to develop the pilgrim city into a ‘city of lakes’ remains a distant dream. Though themuch-touted initiative was conceived nearly two years back it is still remain far from achieved with no work taken up in the tanks covered under the project except one or two tanks near the city. 

At the behest of Chandrababu, the brain behind the project first it was proposed to cover all the tanks located in Tirupati UrbanDevelopment Authority (TUDA) limits and few more tanks having historic backgroundthat are outside TUDA numbering 131 but was later reduced to 100. 

The developments of the tanks were proposed in the three phases including 20 in the first phase, 22 in the second and the remaining 58 inthe last and third phase. Accordingly, officials identified 20 tankson priority basis for rejuvenation of the tanks based on theirlocation like near the city and on the sides of the roads leading tothe temple city to make it more aesthetic. 

While the TTD was entrusted with the leadrole acting as a coordinator of the ambitious project, other government departments including Irrigation, Revenue, Forest, SocialForestry, TUDA and Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) were involved for the development of tanks to realise the dream of the Chief Minister making his native city as a ‘city of lakes’.

The then TTD Executive Officer Dr D SambasivaRao andDistrict Collector Siddharth Jain held several rounds of meetings with departments concerned to finalise the blueprint for the development of the tanks that were identified in the first phase while Naidu on his part nevermissed to dwell at length on the tanks development mesmerising the audients that it is dream project that would turn the Tirupati into a ‘city of lakes’ adding more to its popularity.

Under the massive tank development works like desilting and deepening tank bed, strengthening bunds, plantation of trees, providing facilities like benches, and walking tracks in select tanks were proposed. A visit to select tanks in and around the pilgrim city on Wednesday reveals that the tanks which are in deplorable condition remaining the same.

Except AvilalaTank on the city outskirts and Vinayak Sagar in the city no work was taken up so far. Discreet inquiries revealed that a case filed by a devotee against utilisation of TTD funds seems to be deterred the TTD going ahead withthe works though it (TTD) maintained that it will not spend its funds got from devotees but utilise its men and machinery and act as a coordinator and the works will be taken up with the funds available in various departments under various schemes like Neeru-Chettu, SocialForestry and NREGS. 

TTD Chief Engineer (CE) Ch Chandrasekhara Reddy informed The Hans India that tender for Rs 11 crore was finalised to take up works for thedevelopment of Avilala Tank were works including development of greenery, walking track and fencing sprawling tank area were already done and did not say more about development of other tanks.

Meanwhile, the TUDA and MCT are preparing to take upjointly the development of Vinayak Sagar except the two no works were seen in other tanks in and around the city under the lake city programme.