The determination shown by the Uthiramerur town panchayat in rejuvenating tanks is all set to deliver long-term dividends.
As per field measurement book (FMB) records, the town panchayat has a total of 48 tanks of various sizes — from less than one acre to five acres. Of these, 21 tanks were desilted last year and two new tanks created on government poromboke land, official sources said.
While five tanks were rejuvenated with the help of non-governmental organisations and under corporate social responsibility schemes of industrial units in Kancheepuram district, others were deepened and their bunds strengthened with the civic body’s general fund. The extra effort put in by the town panchayat in identifying the tanks that were heavily silted or covered with mud, using FMB sketches, was received well by residents as they had not forgotten the water-starved summers they experienced in the recent past.
Encouraged by their support, the civic body took up desilting of inlet and outlet channels rconnecting the waterbodies, which receive excess water flowing out of the Uthiramerur lake.
Setting up of reverse osmosis plants on tank bunds at two places also ensured safe and protected drinking water supply to wards where the tanks existed. All these steps helped residents meet their requirements during the summer.
The civic body took up restoration of another 10 tanks this year. Work on four (including Ponmedu Chettikulam) has been completed and a new tank excavated. The remaining tanks would be revived in a phased manner, the sources said.