Two centenaries in Mylapore/Santhome
In terms of historicity of course it pales in comparison to the Law College Pumping Station which has seen action from the time when gravity was the sole method of sewage reaching the sea. That involved something called Kelly’s Bottle but that is another story, for another day and another column
The North Mylapore pumping station has seen it all — from the era of letting untreated sewage into the sea, to sewage farms at Kodungaiyur, Koyambedu, Nesapakkam and Pallikaranai.
Walking around one rainy morning in the Santhome area, I paused by the local office of TANGEDCO or whatever it calls itself these days. It is a tiny colonial building tucked away besides the bishop’s house, with its interior in a shocking state of upkeep. A stone at the terrace level dated the structure to 1927, which means it will turn a 100 come January. I don’t expect a celebration of any kind but nevertheless, a milestone age will be reached.
Cut to Sullivan’s Gardens (now PS Sivaswami Salai). A pumping station there is celebrating its centenary this year. The light green-coloured Greek style edifice can hardly be seen, hidden away behind high gates and being below ground level. The pediment however juts out and on it is inscribed the legend, 1926. What would we do without this marker? Like TANGEDCO, I wonder if the CMWSSB is aware of this centenary.
Chennai / My Madras / arts, culture and entertainment
- mylapore
- santhome
- centenary
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- historicity
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- comparison
- law
