Kochi: The district administration's 100 Ponds in 50 Days has turned out to be a role model for conservation of water sources. After launching the cleaning drive on April 1, 64 ponds in different parts of the district have got a fresh life. More social groups and NGOs are coming forward to support the initiative. “The district which had more than 2500 ponds 20 years ago has only 600 now. When the state is facing the climate change impacts like the scanty monsoon and rising temperature, rejuvenating the natural water sources is the need of the hour. Local bodies and residents’ groups should take the initiative to conserve water sources,” said district collector Muhammad Y. Safirulla.
Maintaining them after cleaning will be entrusted with local bodies. On Monday, seven ponds in Muvattupuzha have been cleaned with the support of volunteers of Anbodu Kochi, Haritha Kerala Mission, Kudumbasree Mission, Nehru Yuva Kendra, local bodies and NSS unit members of various schools. The programme will wind up before the onset of monsoon. Ponds in Kochi city, municipal and panchayat areas and even the tribal settlements have been cleaned during the one month. When the unused ponds were cleaned, the dried-up wells in nearby places started getting water.
