Members of the technical team beside the Ramalingam tank in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, June 11: The district administration, the local urban development authority and the civic body have jointly taken steps to renovate the 144-year-old Ramlingam Tank, which is spread over 8.7 acres in the city.

In 2011, the state irrigation department had prepared a detailed project report to develop the tank as an amusement park at a cost of Rs 5.75 crores. According to the proposal, a 10-foot-wide and 690-meter-long walkway was to be built around the tank. A children’s park, a garden, pedal boating facilities, a fountain and attractive lightning were also envisaged.

The district administration had discussed the issue with the assistant endowment commissioner. However, work could not progress at that time as the legal heirs of the tank had engaged the Berhampur Municipal Corporation and the Endowment Commission in a legal battle.

A five-member technical team consisting of representatives of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department, Berhampur Development Authority, public works department and the minor irrigation department inspected the tank yesterday. “We have studied the south and west embankments of the tank which is in a precarious condition and may breach at anytime. We have jointly demarcated the spots which need urgent repair and have also decided about the nature of construction,” said a member of the technical committee. The committee has submitted the report to municipal commissioner Ajit Kumar Mishra who would hand it over to the district collector for final decision.

“Though the tank is a private property and was involved in a legal battle for many years, the trustee for the development of the tank has allowed the municipal corporation to renovate it. The trustee has also inked an agreement with the civic body for this purpose,” said Berhampur mayor Madhavi.

District collector Prem Chandra Chadhury has asked the endowment commissioner to talk to the trustee members for an amicable settlement of the legal fight to facilitate renovation of the tank and convert it into an entertainment park.