Tambaram, a bustling suburban pocket has witnessed steady growth in its economy and population over the last three decades. With the increase in population, the pressure on the groundwater table has been tremendous. During the 2015 flash floods, a majority of water bodies in the suburb including Mudichur lake flooded their banks, creating a crisis that speaks about the mismanagement of the lakes and ponds.

Now, TAKE Solutions that delivers domain intensive services in Life Sciences and Supply Chain Management has taken up restoration work in three ponds in the suburb as part of their CSR Project. TAKE solutions collaborated with the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) in 2014 to roll out a series of water conservation efforts in the neighbourhood. This included regular volunteering efforts such as lake clean ups, plantation and maintenance, public awareness efforts through street theatre, wall painting and more.

The volunteering efforts extended to adoption and restoration of freshwater bodies in the Perungalathur town limits. With necessary permission from the district administration of Kanchipuram, three suburban ponds within Perungalathur were ecologically revived, these water bodies were deepened, bunds strengthened, inlet and outlet regulated followed by enhancing percolation trenches. Upon completion of these restoration efforts, TAKE Solutions along with EFI and DRDA-Kanchipuram have now initiated works to clean up and fence the Alapakkam lake to prevent it from social abuse.

Employees of TAKE solutions clean a pond in Perungalathur. Credits: TAKE solutions

A collaborative effort

From community engagement to understanding the need for conservation to scientifically reviving the water bodies, there is a sustained effort towards a water positive future.

Deepa Jayakumar, VP Corporate Services, TAKE Solutions said, “As an organisation, TAKE Solutions is committed to being a sustainable business enterprise that creates value for our customers, our investors, our employees, our partners, society and the Environment. We are delighted to be collaborating with the Environment Foundation of India in the lake restoration efforts. Over 120 of TAKE’s volunteers have devoted over 8400 man-hours to clean the periphery of 9 waterbodies, plant over 1250 trees, and paint walls in 5 localities with messages of environmental awareness. On World Water Day, we are proud of our contribution towards restoring the water table of the city and hope to sustain this support.”

Approximately 30% of TAKE’s employees have volunteered to support this cause at least once during the last 5 years. It is clear that the most precious resource in the near future will be clean drinking water. TAKE Solutions team believes that proactive action and scientific restoration and management of the water bodies will make the area rich in water resources in the future.

“We have been partnering with TAKE Solutions since 2014. Over several weekends, TAKE Solutions team have strengthened EFI’s efforts on ground with real time, result oriented environment conservation work. This includes lake cleanups, pond restoration efforts, plantations, wall paintings and much more,” Arun Krishnamurthy, EFI Founder said.

(This article is based on the press release by TAKE Solutions and has been published with minimal edits)