Krishnagiri: Big lakes around Hosur where the birds commonly camp during its migration have found their new home in TVS motor company as an alternative site after the water bodies here have dried up following monsoon failure for years.
Krishnagiri district elevated from 300-metres to 1400-meters above sea level has a geographical extent of 5,14,326 hectares and of which 2,02,409 hectares has been recorded as forest region.The district has rich flora and fauna including good number of elephants, gaur, wild boar, Sambar and spotted deer. Besides, the district lakes receive migratory avian population.
During the migration period, painted stork, grey heron, cormorant, pelican, teals and other birds stay in Ramanayakan Lake of Hosur town and other lakes across this taluk. But, they could not be seen this year as the lakes have already dried up at the onset of ‘Agni Nakshatram’ from today.
However, as ‘a blessing in disguise’-the birds have found their new home inside the TVS motor company, which has few water bodies. Around 50 acres out of a total extent of 320 acres of land have been developed as a forest with water bodies by the concerned corporate house.
“Be a change agent-not just donor’ is the vision of our TVS Motor Company chairman Mr. Venu Sreenivasan,” says 53-year-old P. Venkatesan, vice president, looking after estate management of TVS Motors, said.
According to Venkatesan, the company created rain water harvesting system and percolation tanks after their groundwater resources depleted and affecting the manufacturing facility.
“Learnt the importance of water conservation after our groundwater resources dried up. We created rain water harvesting system by constructing percolation tanks and small lakes for improving the groundwater level,” Venkatesan explained.
He added, “the water bodies developed in natural shape has sloppy structure and the fish culture started in it, gave an interesting result because birds made our place as their home”
They could be seen here from January to till June each year. As many as 135 varieties of birds have been spotted so far and make this place as unannounced bird sanctuary.
Venkatesan answering to a question how lakes inside the factory get water when other lakes across Hosur taluk have dried up has said, “our lakes have natural and artificial water sources to feed them. Other than receiving rain water during monsoon, they get treated water let into them from our effluent treatment plant”.
The TVS group also runs ‘Srinivasa Seva Trust (SST)’ with a vision to encourage locals to find their own solution. The SST operates in five states and so far reached 7,19,890 families, covering 3.14 million population in five thousand villages in places where they work.
“We work with communities and the government agency to empower the rural population in areas ranging from economic development, infrastructure, healthcare and education through our awareness, skill and training programmes,” Venkatesan added.
