Kovalam teams up with NGOs to restore ponds and boost groundwater recharge

In its effort to recharge groundwater and curb seawater intrusion, Kovalam panchayat has partnered with voluntary organisations to restore ponds in the locality, which are in dire need of attention.

With the lack of sufficient freshwater sources, Kovalam is dependent on water supply from neighbouring areas. The panchayat authorities have initiated projects to rejuvenate ponds as a measure to push back seawater intrusion and restore freshwater balance.

Residents like M. Gandhimathi of Kovalam noted that drinking water supply has improved in recent years. “We get water once in two days. But the water quality in borewells is saline,” she said.

R. Narayanan, a civic activist, said rejuvenating ponds was important to improve the groundwater quality in Kovalam, which is vulnerable to seawater intrusion. While water was available at a depth of 20-30 feet, quality remains poor in most wells. The stretch of Buckingham canal also needs to be improved.

Chetty kulam pond is one of the water bodies that was once freshwater sources and later fell into neglect. The pond was recently revived through efforts along with Environmentalist Foundation of India under the ‘Blue-Green Kovalam’ initiative. Most of the ponds taken up for restoration are spread over one to three acre and were choked with silt, solid waste, and weeds.

Kovalam panchayat president Shobana Thangam Sundar said the collaborative efforts with voluntary organisations like EFI and Eco Society India was crucial to improve the ponds as sources of groundwater recharge. “We now rely on drinking water projects from other areas like Thaiyur. Measures are in progress to get water through multi-village water supply schemes. Restoring ponds is important to prevent seawater incursion. We plan to implement tourism activities in Chettykulam and Dargah kulam ponds,” she said.

The Chetty Kulam in kovalam.
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

EFI is involved in restoring six water bodies, including Konathangal, Sivankoil Kulam, and Nachiyarkulam in Kovalam and seven more in Padur and Kelambakkam. The works include clearing of silt for about one metre, strengthening of banks, fencing, plantations, and addition of peripheral recharge wells. “We focussed on storage regulation than storage addition because of the fragile ecosystem and proximity to the sea. In some ponds, we created infrastructure like open canals, sedimentation tanks, and canna plant beds to redirect/treat sewage. Conserving such micro-hydro habitats help sustain the local ecosystem,” said Arun Krishnamurthy, EFI’s founder.

Groundwater quality in many of these ponds located in residential pockets would improve after a few good monsoon years, he added.