The age-old traditions and practices survived and sustained because of the community participation and ownership. Over the course of time, pre- and post- independence government’s policies and regulations resulted in curbing communities’ involvement from protecting the natural resources. This pertains to all contexts. The community disengagement with the natural resources happened with much rapidity in the urban context. Water bodies are one of the many natural resources rapidly disappearing from the urban spaces.

Kulamangalam Oorani is one of the Ooranis in Madurai Urban which needed intervention, yet unattended for years. Site visits definitely provides the much-needed intervention in the tank. Restoration activities without communities’ involvement after results in post-implementation implications – returning to the original state; pre-implementation state.

DHAN’s way of implementation is community driven, regardless of the thematic programme and projects. All interventions are implemented in ways and means that empower and engage the local communities thereby ensuring their active participation in the development activities.

The Project REVIVAL – collaborative efforts of DHAN Foundation and HCL Foundation – envisages to restore the Vandiyur tank cascade system in Madurai. Project Revival team formed Kulamangalam Kanmai Pathukapu Vayalagam (Tank Association), building rapport with the community. After having more than seven association meetings, community realized the cause project REVIVAL working for.

When proposed the idea of restoring the Kulamangalam Oorani, the community narrated the present situation of the Oorani and enlisted the needed interventions. The sewage from the households residing in and around waste disposed into the Oorani. The tank area was used as a dump yard, receiving the community’s solid waste. Moreover, most of the tank water spread area was covered with Prosopis Juliflora.

Restoring committee was constituted involving the community. Through community participation, DHAN Foundation, cleared the Prosopis Juliflora from the water spread area and desilted the tank to its original water holding capacity. A 220-metre stretch fencing was provided around the tank and with the community involvement native tree seedlings were planted around the tank. After 25 years, people started using the water in Kulamangalam Oorani for domestic purpose.

Impact Indicators/Uniqueness of Intervention

1. Interaction with community revealed the fact that the Oorani has been used as a sewage and solid waste disposal site

2. After clearing Prosopis, tank desilting and fencing the tank, for the first time after 25 years, the community is using the water in the Kulamangalam Oorani for domestic purpose

3. Enabling the community about the water bodies significance through various meetings resulted in community themselves initiating the inlet channel clearance works of the Kulamangalam tank