Timely access to machinery and funding for it often remains a key challenge in restoring water bodies. In a concerted effort with government departments, Exnora International has been deploying rent-free earthmoving machines to rejuvenate water sources across various districts while also mobilising community participation.
Finding machinery is often a roadblock for water bodies’ rejuvenation. To bridge the gap, the organisation launched the rent-free excavator initiative to empower communities to protect water resources. The movement for water management with people’s participation is now spreading across Tamil Nadu and helping revive water resources faster, said Senthur Pari, president, Exnora International.
The organisation currently executes nearly 15 projects in districts, including Ariyalur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Vellore, and Tiruvallur, engages in a water literacy programme for residents and encourage them to volunteer and contribute funds to the projects, fostering a sense of ownership, he said.
The long-neglected Thulukkankulam, a pond in Murugampakkam near Tindivanam, now has water after volunteers and the local community desilted the pond after nearly five decades. T. Panneerselvam, a car mechanic by profession, took the initiative along with a team of youngsters to rejuvenate the pond with the help of government agencies and Exnora.
