Tamil Nadu: Madipakkam ponds get fresh lease of life

CHENNAI: What repeated appeals by the officials and local associations could not achieve was accomplished by a joint effort of volunteers of Madipakkam “Neer Nilai Punaramaippu Kuzhu” rejuvenating the Odheeswarar pond in Madipakkam.

With encroachments and garbage disposal, probably nobody knew the barren land has a pond beneath. About 15 years ago, a person had built two washrooms 10 meters away from his building that shrunk the breadth of the pond. Another ten buildings were also set up.

Now, collective efforts of the members of the NGO prompted the person to demolish the washrooms voluntarily.

Also, volunteers cut about 22 sewage pipe connections from the households to the pond.

“We urged the residents to opt for alternative measures like choke pit for letting out sewage,” said Seetharaman, a member of Madipakkam Neer Nilai Punaramaippu Kuzhu.

Siva Vishnu pond in Mahalakshmi Nagar has also got a fresh lease of life after 15 years.

Volunteers said the 1.75-acre pond has shrunk to about one acre due to encroachments.

Most encroachers are government officials as the pond is surrounded with ration shops, Amma canteens and other government constructions.

 About eight tonne of garbage were collected from both the ponds including broken liquor bottles, wet waste, plastic and medical waste. Siva Vishnu pond was deepened and the silt was used to build a bund.