Smart move: Thanjai civic body revives 500-yr-old tunnel lines for water supply

The Smart City project paved way for reviving Ayyankulam and Samandhaan Kulam in the town, but the officials, who beautified the waterbodies, were worrried about recharging them.

After going through a series of studies, the Civic body came up with the restoration of the tunnel lines built nearly 500 years ago. “We have so far restored around 60 per cent of the lines and the remaining works would be completed soon,” said a civic official.

The Chola, Nayaka and Maratha rules, who were accredited par excellence in water management, dug more than 50 tanks across Thanjavur with supply from Vennaru and Vadavaru with the help of tunnel lines.

Later, the Nayakas established a tunnel line between Sivagangai tank near and Ayyankulam at Mela Veedhi. The Marathas maintained the lines properly.

The channels were laid in such a way that once the Ayyankulam filled, the water would be carried through tunnel lines which discharge into Aranmanai Kulam and Varadarajaperumal Kulam and the excess water would be released to Vadavaru. Similarly, the Sivagangai pond had another tunnel connection towards South Veedhi that reached the Samandhaan Kulam. However, in due course of time, these tunnels were closed by encroachments and the water failed to reach Ayyankulam.

According to officials, based on the drawing of 1866, the identification of the tunnel lines was in progress. “The encroachments at the main roads have already been removed and process of locating the line at Kodeeshwaran corner is underway. Similarly, the locating of the lines between Sivagangai Park and Temple Car station. By all means, water would be carried to Ayyankulam,” official said.

“These tunnels were established in such a way that an elephants’ corps and even mega temple car could never damage them. Even after 450 years, these structures exist intact,” wonders, historian Mani Maran.