A restoration project undertaken along a section of a stream passing through Kookalthorai in Kotagiri on Monday, could have a far-reaching impact on the people living along the water body and for the wildlife in areas downstream, including the crucial wildlife habitat of Thengumarahada.
On Monday, members of the Keystone Foundation and 32 students from the Kaypeeyes College of Arts and Science, began the restoration of a portion of the stream in Kookalthorai.
Shiny Miriam Rehel, programme co-ordinator for the Biodiversity Restoration Programme at Keystone Foundation, told The Hindu that the restoration project was being undertaken by Keystone Foundation with grant provided by private firm HCL for “Conservation of hill waters and wetlands for communities and wildlife”, as part of its corporate-social responsibility.
Ms. Rehel said that in order to restore the stream, enhance the flow of water along its course, and to clean it up, members of the NGO and volunteers first removed invasive plant species such as Lantana camara and the shrub, Solanum mauritanum.
“The invasive species use up a lot of water flowing along the stream course, leading to a reduction of water reaching areas further downstream,” she said.
The volunteers are to restore the stream bed over a 700-metre section. They also plan to conduct a massive restoration and clean-up of the stream at the Kookalthorai shed region, with the help of the local panchayat and the Forest Department.
Ms. Rehel hoped the project would ensure the availability of water for residents living close to the stream, and for the wildlife during summer.
After removing the invasive plants, the volunteers would plant more than 1,000 saplings of indigenous herbs that would enable water retention.
Present at the restoration launch was Abel Thangaraj, Principal of Kaypeeyes College of Arts and Science, faculty members and members of Keystone Foundation.
