CHENNAI:The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has started preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for restoring 31 waterbodies in the State under its Southern Region Water Alliance project. The restoration work is expected to begin next month.
According to CII officials — this first of its kind project —where corporates are allowed to plan and execute restoration of tanks and ponds without the help of a civic body, is estimated to cost `six crore.
“The money for the project will be sourced from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of members who have signed up for this water initiative,” said Ravi Sam, chairman, CSR sub-committee for CII’s southern region, explaining that the idea is to have maximum impact with minimum expenditure.
The project will include desilting and cleaning of all waterbodies. However, a few select water bodies will also get walking paths along the circumference and benches for the public.
According to CII officials, the Water Alliance aspires to help its members make a difference in the community around their organisations. Twenty four of the 31 water bodies are in the city’s IT hub, Sholinganallur (Zone 15) itself. The remaining are in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. Some of the ponds which will be restored include Retakuttai, Uthukulam, OMR Kulam Majestic layout and Uzhavarkeni thangal pond in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar along OMR.
“The idea is each member organisation which has contributed will take care of the lake/ pond next to it,” said Sam.For example, Infosys will be responsible for the Gangai Amman Koil Kulam, which is in its backyard. It will take care of the clean-up and can even source volunteers. However, bigger water bodies such as Uzhavarkeni Thangal pond will be shared by two or more organisations.
Some of the ponds have encroachments around them and officials in CII said that a meeting with high-level government officials will be held to ensure solutions are found to prevent pollution of water bodies.
Officials in Greater Chennai Corporation have welcomed this partnership with corporates in helping restore ponds and tanks.