The State Ground Water Authority will seek the help of the Central Ground Water Board to map the water level in the deep aquifer in Kalapet region.
This was one of the several decisions taken during an inspection of the tsunami quarters and the Strides Shasun factory premises by Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi and a team of officials as part of the “Mission Puducherry Water Rich” drive.
At the tsunami quarters site, the Commissioner of Oulgaret Municipality told the visiting team that out of five borewells, only two were functional. The other three borewells were defunct and water was supplied through tankers to the area by spending ₹9 lakh a month.
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After examining the site map of the tsunami quarters and hydrogeological features of the region, it was resolved to harvest rainwater. The meeting decided to construct a percolation pond at the low-lying vacant land in the south-west portion of the tsunami quarters.
According to Ms. Bedi, the cost of constructing percolation pond would be met from auctioning the excavated earthen material and with the support of industrial units or institutions under the corporate social responsibility.
As per the opinion of a hydrogeologist, the submersible pumpsets in the defunct borewells should be lowered by another 100 feet to tap water from aquifer and make the borewells operational.
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Greenery drive
The Public Works Department has been asked to provide support for creating rainwater harvest structures in the prison area while the Forest Department would encourage planting of saplings in the vacant regions of tsunami quarters by identifying the best suited species of plants and by involving the local community in the maintenance of the saplings.
The Lt. Governor undertook the weekend visit in a PRTC bus accompanied by officials from Public Works Department, State Ground Water Authority, Science and Technology, Oulgaret Municipality, Puducherry Planning Authority and Agriculture departments.