Ammapet residents keen on project to preserve Kumaragiri Lake
Special Correspondent
Water body is facing problems owing to dumping of waste
The lake once supplied drinking water to the residents and irrigated their lands
Local people have launched a ‘Save Kumaragiri Lake Campaign' to highlight the issue
Placid waters: A view of Kumaragiri Lake in Salem. -
SALEM: Inspired by the success of the initiative of locals in association with the Salem Citizens' Forum in maintaining the Mookeneri Lake in the city, the residents of Ammapet have also decided to take up the preservation of the Kumaragiri Lake, one of the major water spreads in the heart of the city, which is facing a ‘slow but sure death' due to the indiscriminate dumping of waste and discharge of sewage.
Pained over the rapid degradation of this 40-acre PWD water spread, which once supplied drinking water to the residents and irrigated their lands, the Ammapet residents after closely monitoring the success story of the revival of the Mookeneri Lake for which the Salem Citizens' Forum, district administration and locals have joined hands to take up, have decided to emulate the same.
They approached the Forum and sought their views on Saturday.
The members – S. Sharavanan, Piyush Sethia, Mohan Raj, Selvakumar and Chaitu - explained to them in detail about their ‘Thaneerai Thedi' (In search of water) campaign, which in turn has resulted in the revival of Mookeneri Lake, a PWD one.
“Today it has become a much sought-after tourist spot and a mini bird sanctuary,” they pointed out.
The residents have formed a ‘Save Kumaragiri Lake Campaign' and also decided to implement the suggestions from the Forum members.
Budget
They have announced a tentative budget for this eco exercise for which “donations are pouring in from all quarters,” according to one of the campaign committee members.
The Forum organized a power point presentation along with a slide show on the Mookeneri Lake's successful revival and explained how they had to overcome the initial bureaucratic hassles and how they struggled hard to win the confidence of the locals whose involvement in the project ‘is tremendous.'
They told them about the enormous benefits once the lake is revived.
The success story of reviving the lakes in Salem gains momentum.
SOURCE:The Hindu
