NGO to revive waterbody in Kancheepuram

Tank in front of Sri Ramanujar Sannadhi is being revived

The work will coincide with the 1,000th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanuja

An ancient waterbody, located in front of the Sri Ramanujar Sannadhi at Sevilimedu in Kancheepuram taluk, is being revived by a Chennai-based non-governmental organisation, the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI). The work will coincide with the 1,000th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanuja.

The work of deepening the tank bed up to a depth of 2 feet and laying fresh bunds on all four sides of the tank was taken up a fortnight ago.

Contributions received

The machines and fuel required for desilting, deepening and building fresh bunds were hired with contributions from philanthropists, according to an EFI spokesperson.

The EFI, which promotes a community-based conservation model that is focussed on involving the general public in conserving waterbodies, has taken up several ponds and lakes in the Kancheepuram district after obtaining permission from the revenue divisional authorities of the areas concerned.

The Environmentalist Foundation of India, which began taking up such works in Kancheepuram district in 2007, has so far revived more than a dozen ponds and 6 lakes.