The Environmentalist Foundation of India is on a new mission: Thazhambur pond. This pond is popularly known as Thazhambur Theni Kulam.
Located a kilometre from the Navalur intersection on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, the fresh waterpond is a great place to spot birds. EFI has obtained the necessary permission from the Kancheepuram District Collectorate before embarking on restoration of this pond.
“We did a survey of the pond, which includes testing the water. We also interacted with the residents and spoke to them about the benefits of de-silting the pond,” says Aravindh Krishnan, project co-ordinator, EFI. As is the case with all of its projects, EFI wants residents of the neighbourhood to be guardians of the pond.
The pond attracts a good number of winged visitors. The bunds of the pond has a number of palm trees. The pond gets rainwater from surface runoff and rain water.
The stages
In phase one of the restoration, which started recently, bushes and trash were cleared. On the bunds of the pond, vettiver grass and saplings will be planted.
In phase two of the restoration, the bunds will be strengthened, and four-steps dykes will be created to prevent soil erosion. At the bunds, an inlet channel will be created to store rainwater.
In addition, an island (water recharge pit) at the centre of the pond will be widened to .2 to .4 acres. Channels from the bunds of the lake to the island will be formed to store rain water in the island.
Followed by this, the pond will be de-silted through “scrap silting” method. The silt excavated from the pond will be used to strengthen the bunds.
EFI has been creating awareness among residents to protect the lake.
“Residents of an apartment near the pond have agreed to send the rainwater into the pond after their rainwater harvesting wells in the premises gets filled up,” says Aravindh.
Join them
On Sunday, EFI is inviting volunteers for a wall painting session on the theme ‘conservation of waterbodies and wildlife.’ At the session, volunteers will be sensitised about the waterbodies in the city and its present condition. The painting material will be provided to the volunteers. They will be guided by a team of resource persons at the session. Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
For details, contact Aravindh Krishnan at 95000 47657.