Rejuvenated Sulga Lake by Pyaas Foundation handed over to the Villagers

A 60,000 sq feet of 30-35 feet deep dead lake has been dug up by the Pyaas Foundation under the able monitoring of the the Sulga Gram Panchayat members. This lake on the foothills of the Rajhuns Gad was being dug up under various schemes of the govt but with very hard rock manual labor did not reap any results.

Sulga village is one of those identified as drought affected and the source of water is very scarce in the village. The villagers approached Pyaas foundation after they had rejuvenated a similar lake in Prabhu Nagar last year.

The work was commenced on February 9 and the villagers had knew no bound of happiness when springs emerged as the silt was being removed. Immediately experts in irrigation and water harvesting were called in to give their view and the further digging process was modified to suit the process.

With water seeping out of the mud it was a sign a relief and also a sense of satisfaction that this lake had live water streams which were small but if water is stored here more such streams will grow and eventually the ground water level of the village will come up which is essential.

On March 7, 2007 the lake was handed over to the villagers in the presence of DC N Jayram and ZP CEO Ramchandran R.

It is now the collective responsibility of the Gram Panchayat and the villagers to take care of the Lake, its cleanliness. A Plantation drive in the monsoon is planned on the sides of the lake which will also help in retaining the moisture in the soil and with some fruit bearing trees around the birds will also have another hide out.

The lake was completed in a record 15 days time which is spread over an area of about 1.5 acres and the depth is about 30-35 feet.

This model of a NGO helping a Gram Panchayat for its needs and then handing it over to the Villagers again is a unique model in itself.

The villagers were so happy and said our coming generations will always remember us for this lake if not anything else and along with it the contribution from Pyass Foundation cannot go unnoticed.

Arvind Patil, president of Gram Panchayat said

We tried for this lake to be rejuvenated for so many years but I guess it was the script of the Lord that Pyaas came to quench our thirst in this fashion. This is the best gift we can give our coming generations.

Pyaas Foundation is a group of like-minded people who joined hands to rejuvenate lakes that had dried up due to drought. Their motto is to do the best they can before it’s too late to sail through another summer.