On 26 June 2026 the renovated 400‑year‑old Poornankuppam Agriculture Pond (Muzhiyankulam) in Poornankuppam village, Puducherry, was reopened after restoration.
Key facts
- Location and size: Poornankuppam village, Puducherry; pond area ~1.5 acres (Muzhiyankulam / Muliyan Kulam).
- Age and origin: Estimated ~400 years; believed to date to the Chola period.
- Renovation cost and stakeholders: Approx ₹1.2 crore; implemented by Dhana Sundarambal Charitable Society with local community and private contributions; work done after permission from Ariankuppam Commune Panchayat.
- Works executed: Desilting, revetment of side bunds, construction of walkways, and provisioned inlet and outlet.
- Storage capacity and functions: Nearly 5 crore litres; used for groundwater recharge and as a barrier against coastal seawater intrusion.
- State-level plan: Puducherry submitted a ₹480 crore proposal to the Central government for restoration of 82 waterbodies.
Technical and hydrogeological points
- Groundwater recharge: Stored surface water percolates to replenish shallow aquifers and raise water table.
- Seawater intrusion: Maintaining freshwater heads in coastal freshwater systems reduces inland movement of saline water into aquifers.
- Revetment function: Bank stabilisation reduces erosion and siltation, increasing effective storage life.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti is the central agency for water resources and river basin management.
- National Water Mission: Part of NAPCC; focuses on integrated water resource management and water‑use efficiency.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana: Central scheme for participatory groundwater management (World Bank‑assisted).
- Local approvals: Restoration of waterbodies requires permissions from local bodies (panchayats/commune panchayats) and adherence to local planning norms.