Coimbatore City Round Table 31 and Coimbatore City Ladies Circle 16 – two reputed NGOs working towards the welfare of Coimbatore city in various sectors- initiated the Mariamman Temple Check Dam, Kovaipudur - the first pond restoration project of Round Table India & Ladies Circle India today in the city that is executed by water conservation leader Siruthuli, on Tuesday (24.12.24).

This endeavor is backed by Stalwart Group of Companies and it was inaugurated in the presence of Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor R. Vetriselvan, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli Vanitha Mohan, Coimbatore City Round Table 31 Chairman Tr.Lakshmiganth Krishnan, and Coimbatore City Ladies Circle 16 Chairperson R.S.Vidhya.

Coimbatore City Round Table 31 Chairman Lakshmiganth Krishnan shared that this check dam is 1.5 acres long with a total capacity of 8000 cubic metres and 80 lakhs litres. Nestled between Arivozhi Nagar and Kovaipudur, the check dam lies along a stream originating from the Western Ghats. This region, grappling with rapid urbanisation, has faced a severe water crisis. Borewells in Arivozhi Nagar and Kovaipudur ran dry, even at depths of 1,000 feet, highlighting the dire need for effective water conservation measures, he shared.

Over time, the existing check dams in the area had fallen into disrepair, unable to retain rainwater, which flowed downstream without replenishing groundwater reserves. This left the land parched and borewells unproductive. Recognising the urgency of the situation, Siruthuli, Coimbatore City Round Table 31 and Coimbatore City Ladies Circle 16, undertook the rejuvenation of the Mariamman Temple check dam, he added.

Siruthuli initiated the desilting and restoration on October and as of today, it has already filled thrice and contributed by storing and recharging 24 Million litres of water. He mentioned that saving water and sewage treatment is the most important need and necessity that we all need to come together and work on and thanked Siruthuli for executing it on time at a cost of Rs.9.22 lakh and thanked Christopher Arvinth, MD, Stalwart Group of Companies for this benevolent contribution.

Vanitha Mohan, Managing Trustee, Siruthuli mentioned that this pond will help recharge the ground water level in a short time and cater to not just the humans, but the birds, trees and animals. 

"We plan to undertake plantations around the check dam and desilt multiple upstream structures to further enhance water conservation," she said. 

Others who participated in the event include D.R.Koushik, Area Vice Chairman and Tr.Vishnu Prabhakaran, National Secretary.