By
Sachin Mathews Mani
On 22nd of March 2023, which was celebrated as World Water day; the Kerala Government built a thousand ponds across the State. Of these, eighty three such ponds are located in Idukki district and three of them are in our very own Kumily Panchayath.
This project was announced by the Kerala Government, as part of a Hundred Day Plan to mark the 2nd anniversary of the Pinarayi Vijayan Government. A total of two thousand ponds have been fixed as the target. In the first phase of this project, a thousand ponds were inaugurated on the 22nd of March 2023.
In Kumily Panchayath, the ponds were built in the 11th ward of Thekkady. Ms. Shanthi Shajimon, Honorable President of the Kumily Grama Panchayath, dedicated the ponds to the people of Mannan Kudi.
Pictures Courtesy of: The Kumily Panchayat President
The project which was completed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) benefits the people of this area both as a water source and an income generation activity.
The major innovation and highlight of these ponds are that they lined all around their sides using Coir Bhoovastra (Coir Geotextiles) which are permeable fabrics capable of controlling soil erosion. It protects the earth and promotes vegetation by retaining precious topsoil.
The Geo textile is made from coconut fiber which is extracted from coconut husk, and used to cover the slopes on the sides of the ponds or canals; thus protecting the soil from erosion due to heavy rainfall.
Coir Bhoovastra can retain the moisture of the soil and protects the roots of the plants around the ponds. It is also eco-friendly as it will disintegrate in 5 to 6 years, thereby enriching the soil.
While being an eco-friendly initiative for the protection of ponds and water sources this will also boost the traditional coir industry of Kerala.
This initiative is expected to overcome the dry spell in the coming months.
