Madurai :

Established in 1892 by the British, Arapalayam Water Works is the first modern drinking water scheme in Madurai. An initiative of J A Jones, a British engineer, the project enabled the British to provide drinking water to Madurai city.

However, the scheme was abandoned after 1980 due to contamination of the riverbed and decaying of the stone structure which hosted the water works after city corporation dismantled its roof for renovation. Almost after a year, renovation was not carried out and the otherwise heritage structure is at peril. Residents and conservationists advocate that the structure and place surrounding it – being used as two-wheeler stand at present – can be converted into a beautiful park and heritage centre.

After capturing power in Madurai, the British constituted the city as a municipality in 1866 . To provide clean drinking water, Arapalayam Water Works was developed by the municipal administration by constructing a check dam and sand aquifer wells were sunk. The British were able to pump 30 lakh litres per hour through this system and were able to provide drinking water to the entire city. They also took care in protecting the check dam and aquifers by deploying a mounted horse battalion. According to a book titled ‘Neerinri – the water resources of Madurai’, the project, which had a long run was abandoned in 1980.

R Shivakumar, author of Neerinri, stresses that the structure should be protected considering its heritage value. “It could be turned into a park and the building could be used to host an event exhibiting photos and models of drinking water schemes of Madurai,” he said.

R Jothiram, 60, a resident of Arapalayam, recalled that a park existed some decades ago. “Some 40 years ago there was a park surrounding the water works. The Vaigai river itself was in good condition. The corporation and PWD failed to prevent contamination of the river and subsequently abandoned the project,” he rued. “There is no proper park for Arapalayam and Ponnagaram regions and converting this land at Arapalayam as park will be ideal. Besides hundreds of passengers utilizing nearby Arapalayam bus stand can cool their heels in this park,” said A Ramesh, a resident of Ponnagaram.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by J. Arockiaraj, TNN / June 11th, 2014