Corpn adds quirky twist to city community wells

The Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater), after having dealt with the recent water crisis in the city, have taken up this initiative to convert these wells to stress on importance of recharging groundwater, albeit in an artistic manner.

According to L Nandakumar, Chennai Corporation chief engineer (stormwater drains), the civic body had already completed restoration of around 47 community wells in the city and of them, more than 10 have been developed as ornamental wells. “We have asked local engineers to restore community wells. They will decide and create ornamental wells based on the possibilities,” he added.

The civic body, along with the Metrowater officials, have identified 238 community wells in the city that are in an unused state. The wells are being desilted and renovation of headwalls taken up. “The concept of creating ornamental walls was copied on the Kerala-model. Developing unused wells as ornamental ones will encourage the residents to take ownership and be responsible for maintenance,” another official said. Near Anna Nagar Roundtana, the civic body constructed the headwall of a community well to look like a soup cup with a spoon. In Raja Annamalaipuram park in Teynampet zone, a community well looks like a huge cooking vessel. Similarly, another well in Perungudi zone was renovated with headwalls similar to a pineapple.

These community wells were once used by local residents to draw water, Metrowater officials said. The civic body is creating ornamental wells at a cost of Rs 1 lakh to Rs. 2.5 lakh.

The Corporation has also instructed its engineers to complete the restoration wells work before the monsoon season. Apart from giving a makeover to the unused community wells, the Chennai Corporation also created 339 recharge wells on streets and other public places.