Be it the Pettai Lake, Pudhupatti Lake, Udayarpatti Lake, Ambur Lake or Moolachi Kulam, E.F.I’s restoration efforts in Tirunelveli District have been enormous.

The city of Tirunelveli derives its name from a combination of three different words– Thiru, Nel and Veli, meaning “sacred paddy hedge”. From waterfalls, ponds, streams, lakes to rivers, Tirunelveli offers endless water stories to be proudly spoken about. The city has a rich ecology with flourishing flora and fauna. It is situated on the western banks of the Thamirabarani River, the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu that flows through all the five landscapes as mentioned in Sangam Literature. 

Despite the enduring pride in Tirunelveli’s legacies, a water body situated in the heart of the city has faded from the collective memory of its inhabitants. E.F.I brings to light the tragic story of this forgotten water body- the Poovarasan Kulam. 

Nestled amidst the residential area of Anbu Nagar, the Poovarasan Kulam sprawls around 5.14 acres of land. The pond is a rainwater catchment area with no channels and was fully flooded during the northeast monsoon season in December 2023. However during summer, the region goes bone dry and all the houses in the region have already drilled a borewell for about a depth of 300 ft.

Half a century ago, the pond had a vibrant expanse of water with a thriving ecosystem. Today, it has been transformed into a desolate terrain which is beyond recognition. Urban sprawl had encroached upon the pond, reducing its size by half. The once-deep water body has been further degraded by the accumulation of construction debris and garbage, turning it into a shallow shadow of its former self.  In an effort to revive the ecology of Tirunelveli, E.F.I in collaboration with the Government of Tamil Nadu had taken up the task of restoring the Poovarasan Kulam.

The pond surface was completely infested with invasive weeds such as Prosopis juliflora. Therefore, deweeding and garbage removal across the pond surface was carried out. These efforts aim to improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and restore the natural balance of the pond ecosystem. Secondly, de-silting for an average depth of 4 ft was carried out to remove silt accumulation. This process is essential to improve the water storage capacity of the pond. 

The excavated silt was then repurposed to construct embankments. An offshore bund with an average height of 12 ft and width of 15 ft was established. Similarly, a foreshore bund with an average height of 10 ft and width of 15 ft was created to provide structural integrity to the pond.

A total of nine recharge pits were constructed within the 5.14-acre area, comprising four rectangular and five circular structures. Rectangular recharge pits were chosen to complement the pond’s rectangular shape as well as to minimize potential damage to the embankments.

Future plans entail plantation of native trees to allow native vegetation to prosper and support local wildlife. Protective fencing across the pond’s periphery will also be established to protect the pond from future encroachments. 

Post restoration, the Poovarasan Kulam has been transformed into a healthy aquatic ecosystem. The pond is now devoid of invasive weeds, and has an improved peripheral bund structure and boundary trenches to help retain water. Rectangular and circular recharge pits act as water holding structures that ensure groundwater recharge in the region.

Poovarasan Kulam After Monsoons

Plantation Activity in Poovarasan Kulam

E.F.I’s efforts in restoring the water bodies of Tirunelveli will continue to extend in the future as well.

Do check out E.F.I’s Moorthy Nainar Kulam:

Stay tuned in this space to know more about Nellai and its water stories.

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