Chennai, March 22, 2019: Tambaram, a bustling suburban pocket has witnessed steady growth in terms of population and economy over the last 3 decades. With increase in population, the pressure on the groundwater table also has been tremendous. The 2015 floods with Mudichur as its epicenter was a clear indication of the water management practices neglected during the growth phase. The interest among the general public to conserve freshwater reserves in the region is high as their survival is dependent on it.
TAKE Solutions collaborated with the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) in 2014 to roll out a series of water conservation efforts in the neighborhood. This included regular volunteering efforts such as lake clean ups, plantation and maintenance, public awareness efforts through street theatre, wall painting and more.
The volunteering efforts extended into adoption and restoration of freshwater bodies in the Perungalathur town limits. With necessary permission from the district administration of Kanchipuram, three suburban ponds within Perungalathur were ecologically revived. These water bodies were deepened, bunds strengthened, inlet and outlet regulated followed by enhancing percolation trenches. Upon completion of these restoration efforts, TAKE Solutions along with EFI and DRDA-Kanchipuram have now initiated works to clean up and fence the Alapakkam lake to prevent it from social abuse.
From community engagement to understanding the need for conservation to scientifically reviving the water bodies, there is a sustained effort towards a water-positive future.
Deepa Jayakumar, VP Corporate Services, TAKE Solutions said, “As an organisation, TAKE Solutions is committed to being a sustainable business enterprise that creates value for our customers, our investors, our employees, our partners, society and the environment. We are delighted to be collaborating with the Environment Foundation of India in the lake restoration efforts. Over 120 of TAKE’s volunteers have devoted over 8400 man hours to clean the periphery of nine waterbodies, plant over 1250 trees, and paint walls in five localities with messages of environmental awareness. On World Water Day, we are proud of our contribution towards restoring the water table of the city and hope to sustain this support.”
Approximately 30 percent of TAKE’s employees have volunteered to support this cause at least once during the last five years. It is clear that the most precious resource in the near future will be clean drinking water. TAKE Solutions team believes that proactive action and scientific restoration and management of the water bodies will make the area rich in water resources in the future.
Arun Krishnamurthy, EFI Founder, said “We have been partnering with TAKE Solutions since 2014. Over several weekends, TAKE Solutions team have strengthened EFI’s efforts on ground with real time, result-oriented environment conservation work. This includes lake cleanups, pond restoration efforts, plantations, wall paintings and much more. Three ponds were restored after the 2015 floods, and today, are proper epitomes of restored water bodies in suburban Chennai. We really look forward to strengthening this partnership in the future.”