Woke up bright and early with a spring in my step on the 12th of January 2019, the Day of Restoration!
Residents of the Hiranandani Community in Chennai came out in full force to embark on their long-awaited journey. It was the day of restoration of the neglected and abandoned pond within our township.
Excessive vegetation and an ideal dumping ground for garbage and construction debris had become an eyesore. Fortunately, the green buffer zones with no concrete works around the pond protected the watershed over the years with sightings of beautiful water fowls and migratory birds.
Growing public awareness and raising the profile of the pond inspired the Pond Restoration Project. Explored different ways to create conditions suitable for native wildlife, migratory birds, and providing a secure environment for the residents.
Thanks to the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) for helping to secure permissions from the District Collectorate and other local Authorities. Mr. Arun Krishnamurthy, Founder of EFI offered to assist in the restoration and maintenance of the pond. They raised bunds to prevent encroachment and ensure storage of water and erected protective fencing around the pond.
The drive witnessed a flock of Volunteers from children to grandparents of the Community, along with Students from the Hiranandani Upscale and APL Global Schools. Also trooping alongside were Hiranandani gardeners and few of their staff members, Security Guards, staff from our community Pharmacy/Clinic and volunteers from the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) and their CSR Partners. Volunteers of all ages marched forward with sleeves rolled up, gloves, face masks, rakes and shovels to clean-up all the trash and invasive plants around the pond.
The Hiranandani Organic Waste Converter Plant (OWC) cleared all the organic waste to convert to compost for the community landscaping. WasteWinn Recyclers, a zero-waste management company, collected all the reject and dry waste to ensure proper segregation and disposal.
To further build on the awareness, appreciation of the pond and amazing community engagement during this campaign, the committee organized a Sapling Plantation Drive in August 2019. Hiranandani sponsored the entire campaign by providing all the saplings, engaging their entire team of gardeners to guide and assist the volunteers to plant saplings around the pond and other areas within the community premises.
The sleepy pond has woken up to this beautiful visual aquatic Circle of Life. This new lease of life has its water brimming and buzzing with an array of amazing creatures: creeping, crawling, swimming and flying. A sight to behold!
