MGNREGA workers to restore 21 ponds in Tiruvannamalai

Women workers under MGNREGA to rejuvenate 21 ponds near Arunachaleswarar temple, increasing ground water level and floodwater storage capacity.

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Women enrolled under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGAS) will be roped in to complete the rejuvenation of 21 ponds on girivalam path near Arunachaleswarar temple here in the coming days. The restoration project is being carried out by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA).

Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports E.V. Velu launched a mass cleaning drive, in the presence of Collector D. Bhaskara Pandian, as part of the restoration.

DRDA officials said that each pond would be desilted and deepened to a depth of five metres. This would help to store floodwater from the hills during monsoon.

The inlets in these ponds will be revamped for free flow of floodwater from storm water drains. This will also help to increase the ground water level up to a three km radius in its vicinity, the officials said.

Each pond covers about three acres, are 20-25 ft deep with 30 granite steps on all sides.

Most of the waterbodies have inlets of storm water drains and other water channels to discharge floodwater. The drive was aimed at clearing garbage clogging the drains and channels.