Grundfos India, a global leader in pump solutions and water technology successfully completed the restoration of the Injambakkam pond in Chennai. The pond is situated off the ECR road and is spread across 2.5 acres. Keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation, Grundfos India and Hand In Hand India cancelled the inaugural event to reiterate the importance of social distancing.
This restored pond has now become a source of clean water that will help improve the water table in the neighborhood, act as storage area for the surplus water and during rains, help channel excess water to the agricultural land nearby, thereby avoiding flooding. This pond and its surroundings is now also an ideal recreational area with its walkway (also accessible through a ramp) and solar lights for those who wish to walk around it in the early mornings or late evenings. These facilities can be availed after the lockdown is lifted. Due caution will be exercised to ensure social distancing measures are followed.
Realizing the importance of renewing local water sources, Grundfos India has been working on restoring this pond since 2018 in a phased manner along with local NGOs and the community. In the third phase of restoration, the company has collaborated with Hand in Hand India, a leading nonprofit organization to clear the pond’s bed, strengthen the bund and build fences and plantation around the water body.
Saravanan Paneer Selvam, General Manager, Grundfos India said, “Water is at the core of everything we do at Grundfos. Through such initiatives, we hope to revive water bodies in the city and empower local communities to be involved. Our employees have also been closely involved in this initiative through their volunteering efforts. The idea of having lighting and a walking path was to get the cooperation of the local community in taking ownership and looking after the lake.”
Dr. Kalpana Sankar, Chairperson and Managing Trustee, Hand in Hand India, also added “We at Hand In Hand India are happy to have partnered with Grundfos India, a company that clearly understands water. There are about 1000 people who live in and around this pond and they will be positively impacted by this restoration. Besides establishing a committee to maintain the pond, Grundfos India along with Hand In Hand India has created a three-year plan to work closely with the community members to create a self-sustaining pond through the creation of a herbal and vegetable garden and fishery.”
