Did you know that 24% of Tamil Nadu’s water bodies do not contain water?

According to the First Census of Water bodies Report by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டத்தை பசுமை படுத்தும் வகையில் E.F.I தருவைகுளம் வனம் அமைத்துக்கொண்டுள்ளது. மேலும் தூத்துக்குடியின் நீர்நிலைகளை பாதுகாக்கும் முயற்சியில் சங்கரப்பேரி குளத்தை மறுசீரமைத்து வருகிறது.

தூத்துக்குடியின் சுற்றுசூழலுக்காக எங்களுடன் இனைந்து தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு செய்யுங்கள்.

A Glimpse of Thoothukudi’s Environment

Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu is characterized by its diverse topography. The district’s major rivers, including the Vaipar, Thamirabarani, and Karamanaiyar are ephemeral, flowing primarily during the monsoon season. While the district boasts a rich water resource heritage, it also faces unique challenges due to its geographical characteristics.

The district faces problems such as seawater intrusion, a phenomenon where saltwater infiltrates freshwater aquifers. This contaminates drinking water and other vital water sources. Rapid urbanization in the district has led to a growing increase in the demand for water.

The Sankaraperi Pond Restoration

Sankaraperi is a village located in the north western part of the Thoothukudi district. The Vellore-Thoothukudi Highway runs through the village. Sankaraperi Pond, a 2.5-acre water body, is located in the central part of Sankaraperi village. Two roads run along the pond’s northern and western boundaries, forming an L-shaped configuration. 

The pond has two inlets in its northern and southern region. It acts as a catchment area during periods of rainfall. However, over time, the Sankaraperi Pond had fallen into a deteriorated state with compromised water-holding capacity.

E.F.I extends its sincere gratitude to Thoothukudi City Municipal Corporation for their administrative support in collaborating towards a BlueGreenThoothukudi.

E.F.I’s Restoration Efforts

Restoration Process	E.F.I’s Intervention
Deweeding	Prosopis juliflora, Castor, Parthenium, Lantana camara, Ipomoea carnea, and Corchorous olitorious across 1 acre were removed from the pond area.
Desilting	Desilting for an average depth of 1 ft was carried out to remove sediments from the pond’s surface.
Bund Creation	The height and width of the bunds were enhanced to improve the water holding capacity of the pond.  East side bund Height- 20 ft East side bund Width- 15 ft North and West Road side bund Height- 12 ft North and West Road side bund Width- 8 ft
Recharge Pits	A recharge pit with a depth of 4 ft was made to capture and filter runoff as well as to recharge groundwater.
Fencing	A fence of 8 ft height has been constructed along the road side with 2 feet underground and 6 feet above ground to provide robust security.

As a restored water body, the Sankaraperi pond is sure to be a crucial water source for the surrounding farm fields in Sankaraperi village. This revitalized pond helps to maintain the local ecosystem, enhancing biodiversity by attracting various species of birds and aquatic life.

Embracing the Blue Change for Water

Volunteer for India and her Environment with E.F.I