18 holy water sites reclaimed in Rameswaram

‘Green Rameswaram’ has identified the holy water bodies using old maps, the district gazette and other documents available with the temple authorities, Saraswathi, coordinator of the organisation told reporters. Speaking to DTNext, Saraswathi, claimed that they identified 108 water bodies in the island. “Most of the water bodies were clogged by mud after the 1964 cyclone and after that people started encroaching them,” she said.  

In the first phase, they have identified 64 water bodies and have reclaimed 18 of them. But only 30 per cent of the work was completed. Solar-powered street-lights, fencing and other works are still pending. 

The water bodies that were reclaimed are named after Parasurama, Narayana, Saravana, Sarvaroga Nivarana, Meera, Krishna, Simha, Brahma among others. The remaining encroachments will be removed and the water bodies will be restored to their original form by the district administration, the temple body and the green initiative so that rainwater could also be harvested in them, she said. The famous Ramanathaswamy temple here, thronged by pilgrims from across the country, at present has 22 holy water sites. It is believed that taking a dip in these holy waters is sacred.