Boating around Big Temple planned under Smart City' for Thanjavur

Thanjavur: Several projects finalised under the ‘Smart City’ scheme for Thanjavur are at the level of calling tenders after Detailed Project Reports (DPR) have been finalised.

Centre included Thanjavur in the list of smart cities two years back and has allotted Rs 750 crore for five years at the rate of Rs 150 crore per year for taking up development and modification works.

The heart of Thanjavur town is 36.33 sq km and extension areas constitute 110.40 sq. km. The city’s total area is now 146.73 sq. km. Tenders will soon be called for developing Rajappa park near clock tower near old bus stand at a cost of '4 crore, officials said. Other works for which tenders are to be called are developing Srinivasapuram park at a cost of '1.3 crore, digging additional two water supply wells in Kollidam river at Thirumanur to supply 35 million litres of water per day at a cost of Rs 288 crore, extending underground drainage to uncovered areas at a cost of '95 crore and creating storm water drains at a cost of '26 crore, officials said.

With respect to drinking water supply, officials said that at present the city is getting 24 million litres of water per day from Kollidam in Thirumanur, Vennar pumping station and other bore wells. Requirement of drinking water in 2035 has been taken into consideration and accordingly it has been decided to dig two additional wells at Thirumanur and get additional 35 million litres of water per day along with already supplied 24 million litres per day, officials explained. This will meet the drinking water requirements until 2035.

Underground drainage has not been completed fully in the town and there is a need to cover uncovered areas too.

Moreover, the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Marimmankoil should be expanded and improved. Smart city funds will be utilised for this also, officials added. Detailed Project Reports are under preparation for many other projects to be taken under “Smart city” scheme. They include development of old bus stand and Thiruvaiyaru bus stand (stand from where buses for Thiruvaiyaru start near old bus stand), development of Sivaganga park, Sivaganga tank, Ayyankulam, Samanthan Kulam, Kamaraj market, Serfoji market. Another ambitious project under ‘Smart City’ scheme for which DPR is under preparation is moat development. The moat around the famous Big temple will be cleaned, renovated, filled with water and boating facilities will be introduced. This will be done at a cost of Rs 250 crore. Thiruvalluvar theatre, which is now under the control of city corporation, will be demolished and converted into a commercial complex with multiplex theatres, officials said. “When all these works are completed, Thanjavur will reallybecome a ‘Smart city’,” officials said.