Oussudu lake water supply project to be revived

A meeting convened by Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi has decided to revive the project proposal to draw drinking water from the Oussudu lake.

The decision was made on the basis of the opinion tendered by the Conservator of Forests that the proposal stood exempted from Environmental Clearance regulations.

It was resolved at the meeting at the Raj Nivas to put together an action plan to implement the 10-point recommendations made by the State Level Committee on Re-estimation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the Union Territory.

Satellite mapping

Accordingly, satellite mapping of the aquifer bed of Puducherry indicating the water table, would be initiated to evolve comprehensive proposals to protect and replenish the aquifer beds without letting the table sink too low or dry up.

The Public Works Department has been tasked to prepare operational charts or maps of borewells, ponds and channels to monitor the water projects for conservation.

As a follow-up to a visit in April, Ms. Bedi led a team to survey the Aayi Pond and the Muthirapalayam Head Works to work towards making Puducherry water-rich.

At the Aayi Pond, where she was joined by volunteers and representatives of non-governmental organisations, the Lt. Governor and senior officials planted samplings as a symbolic gesture to mark the preservation of the pond that had been cleaned by a batch of volunteers.

Later during the visit to the Muthirpalayam Head Pumping works and inspecting the map of overhead tanks placed, Ms. Bedi said important decisions need to be taken to check wastage of water, conserve water and recycle water to ensure that Puducherry and its surroundings did not face water scarcity for 20 years.