Jisha Surya
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) will soon begin works to develop Aanathazhchira pond into a major rainwater harvesting pond covering almost 5 acres at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore.
“The work was awarded last week, which is expected to begin in a week. Work involves removal of mud from almost 5 acres. Bund will be constructed around the borders. We plan to complete the work in six months, provided there is no rain,” said D Sasikumar, assistant engineering, KWA.
The legend goes that an elephant and its mahout were drowned in the pond and hence it got the name Aanathazhcira. “It was such a big pond that people in and around the region depended on Aanathazhchira for drinking water. Due to failure in monsoon in the past several years and climatic changes, large part of the pond has been filled with mud and only around 5 acres remain as pond,” said Andoorkonam panchayat president Parampipalam Nisar.
Nisar, however, added that the current estimate of Rs 2.10 crore is insufficient to bring the pond to its old glory. “The KWA could only remove mud and construct bunds. To turn it into a rain harvesting pond would require more fund and efforts,” said Nisar.
The pond belongs to minor Irrigation department. It was on the request of Andorkonam panchayat that the KWA decided to develop and maintain the pond.
KWA hopes that they could turn the Aanathazhcira into a rainwater harvesting pond after next monsoon. The authorities feel that it could benefit more than 50,000 people in Andoorkonam panchayat and neighbouring areas such as Pothencode and Mangalapuram.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) will soon begin works to develop Aanathazhchira pond into a major rainwater harvesting pond covering almost 5 acres at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore.
“The work was awarded last week, which is expected to begin in a week. Work involves removal of mud from almost 5 acres. Bund will be constructed around the borders. We plan to complete the work in six months, provided there is no rain,” said D Sasikumar, assistant engineering, KWA.
The legend goes that an elephant and its mahout were drowned in the pond and hence it got the name Aanathazhcira. “It was such a big pond that people in and around the region depended on Aanathazhchira for drinking water. Due to failure in monsoon in the past several years and climatic changes, large part of the pond has been filled with mud and only around 5 acres remain as pond,” said Andoorkonam panchayat president Parampipalam Nisar.
Nisar, however, added that the current estimate of Rs 2.10 crore is insufficient to bring the pond to its old glory. “The KWA could only remove mud and construct bunds. To turn it into a rain harvesting pond would require more fund and efforts,” said Nisar.
The pond belongs to minor Irrigation department. It was on the request of Andorkonam panchayat that the KWA decided to develop and maintain the pond.
KWA hopes that they could turn the Aanathazhcira into a rainwater harvesting pond after next monsoon. The authorities feel that it could benefit more than 50,000 people in Andoorkonam panchayat and neighbouring areas such as Pothencode and Mangalapuram.
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