Water scarcity is a thing of the past at Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur.
Thanks to the networking of channels and creation of 18 percolation ponds, which have helped in harvesting rainwater completely, the region’s groundwater table has been recharged, say officials.
K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, additional principal chief conservator of forests and zoo director, says, earlier, rainwater would run off and go waste. Now, this has been arrested and all the rainwater gets drained into the percolation ponds.
Vandalur zoo requires 5 lakh litres of water a day, and is totally dependent on groundwater resources.
With increased urbanisation, groundwater table is depleting day by day. Less than expected pre-monsoon showers too have compounded the problem, say officials.
After Chief Minister Jayalalithaa sanctioned Rs. 1 crore for creation of rainwater harvesting structures at the zoo, a team was formed to implement the project.
A field study on quality of water hold area, drainage of rainwater, topography of land and soil quality was conducted. Based on the findings, officials decided creation of percolation ponds would be ideal for the zoo landscape.
The ponds have been created with minimal cemented structures. Importance has been given to the formation of bunds. Weirs and flush escapes have been constructed in the required ponds.
The ponds have been created in such a manner that excess water from one pond gets drained automatically into another, says Mr. Reddy.
The new ponds can hold 22.5 crore litres of water, and are expected to get filled up thrice a year.
A total of 67.5 crore litres of rainwater will be harvested using the new structures. Water from the ponds will fulfil the zoo’s requirements for three-and-a-half years, says Mr. Reddy.
In order to strengthen the bunds, the authorities have planted magizham, banyan, peepul, jamun, iluppai and neem saplings.
