Chennai: Sholinganallur’s Sathyavani Muthu Pond, once reduced to a waterbody choked with invasive weeds, garbage and silt, has been restored by Greater Chennai Corporation and Environmental Foundation of India (EFI) as part of efforts to revive the city’s urban waterbodies and strengthen the its blue-green infrastructure ahead of the monsoon.The pond, located along the Old Mahabalipuram Road, west of Buckingham Canal, was once a thriving wetland supporting birds, reptiles and fish. Rapid urbanisation of the surrounding landscape gradually degraded the waterbody, leaving it with smaller puddle-like systems, affecting its ability to support aquatic life. Illegal sewage discharge, indiscriminate dumping of garbage, excessive silt deposition and invasive weeds were among the major problems that affected the pond.“The restoration focused on reversing the degradation,” said Arun Krishnamurthy of EFI. “The pond’s deterioration had raised concerns over groundwater quality in the locality. Restoring it will improve rainwater retention and groundwater recharge while creating a better habitat for local biodiversity,” he said.The pond is particularly significant given the rapid urbanisation of Sholinganallur and areas surrounding it. “Such waterbodies can help retain rainwater and reduce surface runoff during monsoon,” said Sholinganallur zonal officer G Lokeshwaran, .Residents in the neighbourhood welcomed the revival, but stressed the need for upkeep. “For years, the pond had become almost unusable, with garbage, weeds and stagnant water becoming a regular issue. With the restoration, we hope that it will hold rainwater better during the monsoon and once again become a useful waterbody for the locality,” said Dinesh Thillaiyappan, a resident of Sholinganallur.
