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Pozhichalur Thangal, a twin-pond strategy that had suffered years of garbage dumping, sewage inflow, and neglect, has been restored by the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), an NGO engaged successful situation restoration and conservation, providing a caller lease of beingness to a cardinal waterbody successful Pozhichalur adjacent Pammal.
The restoration, carried retired nether the ‘Blue-Green Chengalpattu’ initiative, progressive the removal of much than 11 tonnes of garbage and debris, desilting of the ponds, and measures to amended groundwater recharge and biodiversity. According to the EFI, this has accrued the waterbody’s retention capableness to much than 8.6 crore litres.
Restoration measures
EFI laminitis Arun Krishnamoorthy said restoration of the seven-acre southbound pond began successful September 2025, portion enactment connected the four-acre northbound pond was completed by March this year. The remaining works would beryllium completed shortly, helium said.
The task included the removal of garbage and invasive vegetation, desilting, operation of dual embankments, installation of recharge structures, and instauration of nesting islands for birds.
“Large quantities of garbage and accumulated silt were removed. Sewage inlets were blocked, and invasive weeds cleared. It was a challenging task,” Mr. Krishnamoorthy said.
The excavated silt was utilized to fortify bunds astir the ponds and make 5 nesting islands. Fencing has besides been erected to forestall caller dumping of waste, helium said.
A presumption of the restored northbound pond of Pozhichalur Thangal, wherever desilting and situation betterment works were carried retired nether the BlueGreen Chengalpattu initiative. | Photo Credit: T. Arvind
The remaining Prosopis juliflora (seemai karuvelam) trees volition beryllium removed and a last clean-up undertaken earlier the monsoon, Mr. Krishnamoorthy said. He added that nationalist information would beryllium important to safeguard the restored waterbodies.
Residents hopeful
Residents welcomed the initiative, expressing anticipation that it would amended groundwater levels and the section environment.
“There was a time, astir 3 decades ago, erstwhile h2o could beryllium drawn easy from our wells. Over the years, the information has deteriorated,” said Radha, a resident, adding that the restoration would amended groundwater recharge and supply a amended walking environment.
Ponnamma, different resident, said the country was erstwhile overgrown with thorny vegetation and often utilized for anti-social activities. “Now we tin unrecorded without fear,” she said.
Aravind, who lives adjacent the northbound pond, urged authorities to guarantee that sewage from unauthorised underground drainage connections was not allowed to re-enter the waterbody.
Pedestrian pathway
Officials said a large information of the pedestrian pathway astir the southbound pond had already been developed utilizing MPLADS (Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds. The remaining stretch, on with amenities specified arsenic lighting, is expected to beryllium taken up by the State government.
Pallavaram MLA J. Kamatchi told reporters that isolated from Thiruneermalai Periya Eri, wherever enactment has been initiated by the Water Resources Department, plans for restoring lakes would beryllium taken up aft a elaborate assessment.
Senior societal activistic V. Santhanam welcomed the restoration of Pozhichalur Thangal and urged authorities to hole a broad enactment program for rejuvenating different waterbodies successful the Pallavaram constituency, including Veeraraghavan, Nemilichery, and Sembakkam lakes.
