Collector K. Tharpagaraj, who checked Arrunaclashware in Turavanamalai on Tuesday to provide other civic amenties. Commissioner of Truvanamalai Corporation, S. Selva Balaji, also visible | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Tirvannamai Corporation plans to build at least two large above -ground reservoirs (OHTS) on a 14 km long Girivam road near the Temple of Arunachaleshwara to ensure continuous water supply for toilets used by pilgrims along the route.
Truvannamei Corporation officials said that existing civic equipment, especially toilets and water taps, remain insufficient due to the growing number of traces to the temple city, especially after the pandemic. “Water supply, especially for toilets on the Girivallam path, remains the highest priority due to a constant increase in pilgrimage to the temple city. For this purpose, water sources are also identified,” said S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner Tiruvannamea Corporation, Hindu.
On average, the city will receive an average of three visitors to Lakhy on weekends in Chitra Pourns and 1.5 lakh tourists. During the Karthigai Deepam festival last December (2024) it was attended by about 40 visitors to Maha Deepam.
Corporation officials said the Temple and Girivallam Path are covered with Adinamalai Reserve Forest (RF), which includes about 900 hectares, and a home for spotted deer, wild advice, peacock, wild cats and rabbits. Any open defecation on the route will not be unhygienic, but also represents the threat to wild species in the forests.
On Tuesday, together with the Commissioner of Corporation Mr. Balaji, collector K. Tharpagaraj, he looked at the temple, Girivallam Path and the surrounding areas and provided pilgrims with other civic equipment.
Currently, 57 toilets, including 35 of them built by the Rural District Development Agency (Drda). Most toilets have existed since 2002, when the journey gained the first dose of four toilets for pilgrims. Since then, the civic body has been hired mobile washrooms, especially during the festival periods.
Corporation officials said that another 223 new toilet on the way would be built in the coming months according to the CSR initiative by public companies like Bhel, NLC and Ongc. In other words, each toilet will have an average of 50 meters with each other.
For this purpose, the civic body plans to build at least two overs for the price of 30 CRS. Each tank will have a capacity of one lakh liter. The Sathanur and Samuthiram Lake dam will provide water for new equipment.
Currently, the toilets on the way are maintained with approximately one billion (millions of liters a day) water compared to the actual need for four billion. The peaks remain a key water source for him. The civic body gains around 22 billion for its home needs and other purposes from these two water bodies every day. A small proportion of water from these water bodies will be diverted to new toilets on the road, the officials said.
Published – June 18, 2025 12:37 PM
