The Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation has renovated 56 traditional public ponds in Palakkad district as part of addressing drought. The renovation has been done over the last five years with a ₹15-crore financial support by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
As many as 53 of the renovated ponds were inaugurated and handed over to the respective local bodies. The remaining three - Vayilyakunnil Siva Temple pond at Kadambazhipuram, Vellachiyamman Kulam at Vadakarapathy and Kanakkampadam Kulam at Karimpa, are nearing completion.
The project that was planned for two years was delayed because of ownership issues over certain ponds. COVID-19 too caused the delay in the final stages. “We are happy that we could address the problem of water shortage in some areas by renovating the filled ponds,” said Thara Manoharan, district soil conservation officer.
