Officials of the Ministry of Tourism, which is carrying out the multimillion-dollar works, said the purpose of constructing the jetties is to promote eco-tourism activities near the temple town. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Work has begun on the construction of two jetties in the rejuvenated irrigation reservoir managed by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) at Edapalayam village on the outskirts of Tiruvannamalai town.
Officials of the Ministry of Tourism, which is carrying out the multimillion-dollar works, said the purpose of constructing the jetties is to promote eco-tourism activities near the temple town. It will also serve as a recreational facility for local residents and devotees of the Arunachaleshwar temple. “A full-fledged boating facility will be created in the lake to promote tourism activities in the region. The entire work will be completed before the northeast monsoon,” S. Karthik, Tourism Officer (Tiruvannamalai) told The Hindu.
Funded from the 2025–26 Special Grant Fund, the ship facility will be constructed at a cost of ₹2.62 crore. Two piers will be built in the lake, which is four meters deep. A variety of boats will be featured, including speedboats, paddle boats and punts. Each motorboat can accommodate approximately 10 people. A nominal fee will be charged on an hourly basis. The campus will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Rejuvenation of the reservoir, which has a total capacity of 38 mcft of water spread over 78 acres, has been done under the Rehabilitation and Restoration of Lakes scheme 2024-25. The existing inlets in the reservoir have been reconstructed for the free flow of rainwater from the storm drains of the city and the Girivalam trail. “The new facility will also help boost the local economy as traders can set up shops near the reservoir. Adequate security measures should be taken to operate the facility,” resident K. Ramu said.
A paved footpath was also laid on the railing of the tank. From the total width of the embankment of 6.6 meters, paved walkways were laid to a width of three meters to ensure its stability.
DRDA officials said work is also underway to build a small island in the center of the reservoir to promote local tourism, especially attracting pilgrims to the facility. The island and enclosure will also have native plants that attract migratory birds.
Seedlings will be procured free of cost from the Department of Horticulture and Farmers. A small bridge, which will be about 60 meters long, will connect the island with the dam of the reservoir for visitors. The tourist board will set up a restaurant for visitors to the island.
Published – 18 March 2026 05:30 IST
