Environmentalists say regular clearing of weeds and recycling of the water are essential to preserving the tank.
| Photo Credit: T. Arvind
The centuries-old temple tank of the Sri Ranganathaperumal Temple in Thiruneermalai, barely four kilometres from Chromepet, is in an alarming state of neglect. Devotees have urged the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to initiate restoration measures ahead of the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival.
The tank, Manikarnika Theertham, attached to one of the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams, is today covered by thick layers of weeds.
Thorny shrubs line the steps leading into the water, while open sections of the tank’s compound allow anti-social elements to enter the premises. Empty liquor bottles, garbage and debris litter the sacred site.
Residents fear that with Vaikunta Ekadasi due in late December, the footfall of devotees will increase, adding to the waste around the tank.
Though the temple is a listed institution with an annual revenue exceeding ₹1 crore, restoration of the tank remains pending. Temple priests, who did not wish to be named, said the tank’s condition deteriorated after Chithirai (mid-April).
A historic site
The temple complex hosts numerous inscriptions from the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagar periods. The name Neermalai, historians note, refers to the hill often being surrounded by water.
Historian V. Sriram recalls that Thiruneermalai was a popular venue for simple weddings in the 20th Century, including the marriage of M.S. Subbulakshmi and T. Sadasivam in 1940, witnessed by The Hindu’s Kasturi Srinivasan.
It also featured in many Tamil films before the temple authorities stopped granting permission for shooting films, after actor Vijay’s Bhagavathi, to protect its sanctity.
Environmentalists say regular clearing of weeds and recycling of water are essential to preserving the tank. Temple Executive Officer Muthuraja said an estimate of ₹63 lakh, prepared by departmental engineers for cleaning and desilting the tank, has been forwarded to the HR&CE Commissioner through Kancheepuram Joint Commissioner.
“The Secretary has assured us that approval will be granted soon. Once sanctioned, work will begin immediately,” he said.
Published – November 28, 2025 04:41 am IST
