The Old Mahabalipuram Road is a treasure chest for water-bodies. The more you explore the more you find!
One such a serene water habitat adjustment to the Buckingham canal is the Thaali Kulam. This water-body with its soil structure needed very basic restoration efforts to ensure optimal water storage and recharge.
Over the years the Thaali Kulam had become a shallow, weed infested water-body. E.F.I took on the restoration of this pond in the summer of 2019; by eliminating the weeds, removal of trash that was dumped into the water-body and regulation of the inflow canal into the water-body followed by a calculated deepening of the water-body, we have now been able to revive the Thaali Kulam.
This pond today can hold approximately 65% more water that what it could earlier.
The pond has a three deck bund which is also lined with protective fencing to keep away any kind of encroachment or trash that could reach the water holding area.
E.F.I with administrative support from the Greater Chennai Corporation (G.C.C) and funding support from Expo Freight (EFL) took on the restoration of this water-body in 2019.
Several native berry bearing, fruit bearing and nectar bearing sapling have been planted along the bunds of the water-body to improve green cover and also strengthen the newly laid earthen bunds from eroding in the future.
Public and private walls in the pond’s vicinity have been painted with local flora, fauna and environment awareness messaging through volunteer efforts. Also, by monthly pond clean ups are to organized to ensure the sustainability of the project and at the same time to involve the local communities in pond conservation effort to bring a sense of belonging towards this water body.
Watch the transformation of the Thaali Kulam here:
Volunteer for India and her environment with E.F.I!
-Jai Hind-