Restored lake stands as testimony to youth power

Waterbody is dependable source of irrigation once again

Periyakulam in Peravurani has become the cynosure of all eyes as it is now filled with water, thanks to restoration efforts by a youth forum.

The lake, which was barren for most part of the year due to encroachments in water inlet channels and catchment areas, was taken up for restoration by a group of youth in Peravurani in June.

A forum, Federation of Tail End Area Farmers Associations, was floated by the group led by Ramkumar to revive the lake. Its effort received overwhelming patronage from like-minded residents in the area since Periyakulam lake served as a source for irrigation to ayacuts in Peravurani and nearby villages such as Ponkadu, Mudapulikadu and Old Peravurani.

As the initiative gained momentum, the team received financial support from natives who had migrated to other places in the State and overseas.

With moral support from government officials, it took up desilting and strengthening of the bund on a war footing and completed the one-third of the work well before the onset of monsoon at a cost of ₹23.50 lakh, sources said.

“As the lake is getting filled up with rainwater and flow diverted from nearby courses, it is all set to regain its previous status of a dependable source of irrigation after seven years,” according to Nimalan of Peravurani.

The 550-acre water body served as a direct source for irrigation and an indirect source by ensuring recharge of groundwater table, so that cultivation of various crops could be taken up by farmers in about 5,000 acres in the region with confidence, he added.

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