MADURAI
It is a sunny Monday afternoon and Karisalkulam tank is just about gaining knee-deep water around the edges. A man who helps in the everyday cleaning bathes as water from Periyar dam arrives. Though sheets of styrofoam and plastic float around the edges, cleaning is on.
“It took us a lot of efforts to bring the water to the tank. Soon, it will be full and the groundwater will be recharged. Though there is dirt around the tank, we are trying. Cleaning is part of our everyday routine,” says M. Narayanan, president of Sri Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association.
Karisalkulam kanmoi, once a flourishing tank providing water to nearby agricultural land, is now slowly recuperating after years of abandonment. It is spread over an area of about two acres and is part of the cascading tank system which spills over to Naganakulam tank.
It is surrounded by several residential areas. Some of them are P and T Nagar, Naganakulam, Bibi Kulam, SBI Colony, Bank Colony and EB Nagar. Mr. Narayanan estimates that about 3,000 households are dependant on Karisalkulam tank. An official in the Public Works Department adds that the tank has dealt with a fair share of encroachments. He adds that it is still an issue of contention around P and T Nagar.
For the second time in two years, water is finally trickling into the tank. About 600 residents, who have houses in Sri Nagar, Bank Colony and EB Nagar, have woken up to the call of self-sustenance.
The members of local residents’ welfare associations meet regularly to clean the tank so as to improve their groundwater quality.
“Thirty years ago, this tank was full and had portable water. The supply would arrive from Alanganallur and then be diverted from here. Agriculture was flourishing in these parts and there were hardly 15 houses. Now, things have changed. All agricultural land has been converted into residential plots. With more plots comes greater waste generation. It becomes our responsibility to clean the tank,” asks N. Valliammal, a resident.
K. Sitaraman, a retired government employee and secretary of the association, shows off the thorn prick marks on his hand as he speaks to The Hindu about the cleaning efforts.
“In my times, we would clear the sewage and bushes blocking the path of water during agricultural season. We took ownership because we were dependent. This is the same model we are trying to replicate here,” he says.
Mr. Narayanan agrees. He says that he is tired of the current flock of residents waiting for government intervention in all areas. “It is basic civic responsibility to stop littering and dumping plastic in waterbodies and storm water drains. It is not right to expect the government to clean up after the citizen’s mess,” he says.
The members spend approximately ₹10,000 for cleaning the tank using earth movers. The office-bearers inspect the clearing work that takes place for over three days. Mr. Narayanan says that the cleaning takes place once in three months.
He adds that the basic prerogative of the cleanliness initiative is to work symbiotically with the administration.
“Currently, the tank needs a clean path for entry of water. The storm water drains are choked and filled with sewage, preventing the flow. We can invest in the tank and can help the government in cleaning the nearby drains. However, we do not have enough wherewithal,” he says.