Adv Commissioners to check if Athi Varadhar’s tank needs to be desilted

Justice P D Audikesavulu, before whom a plea moved by one Asokan came up in this regard on Monday, directed the advocate commissioners to visit the tank and submit a report by August 8.

Pointing out that the wooden idol of the deity was taken out from the temple tank only once in 40 years, the petitioner said this meant that the tank had not been desilted for the past four decades. Moreover, after the idol is immersed on August 18 as scheduled, the tank cannot be desilted for another 40 years. Hence, the tank must be cleared of all silt and waste before immersing the idol, he said.

However, in his counter, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Commissioner submitted that ahead of removing the idol from the tank, the water and the fish were transferred to the Potramarai Kulam. After this, all the waste in the tank were removed and duly cleaned. As the tank has been kept out of bounds for devotees ever since the idol was removed, the tank is already clean, he added.

However, Justice Audikesavalu directed special government pleader M Maharaja who appeared for HR&CE department and government special advocate M Karthikeyan to visit the tank on Wednesday and submit a report as to whether such desilting and cleaningis required.