DHAN Foundation’s approach towards water bodies restoration and rejuvenation centered around community ownership and participation. ‘Community’ centered approach has been practiced in all the implementations in order to revive the age-old tradition and indigenous practice of water bodies governed and managed by the communities. Centre for Urban Water Resources (CURE) of DHAN Foundation through its ‘REVIVAL’ project envisaging to restore the Vandiyur tank cascade through community partnership. On the occasion of ‘World Habitat Day 2020 – Housing For All: A Better Urban Future’, CURE initiated tree plantation drive. On 3rd and 18th of October 2020, 100 saplings were planted across Thirupalai tank bund and Mangalagudi tank bund respectively. Tank Vayalagam Association members, DHAN Foundation team, HCL Volunteers, Local youth and TDA students have participated in planting the saplings. Post-plantation, community leaders and members have recalled the significance of the tanks, the age-old community connectivity with the tank and how over the course of time community disengagement happened.
| Native Trees Planted under - The Project Revival | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sr. No. | Tree Name | No. of Trees | ||
| Common Name | Common Name | |||
| 1 | Marutham | Terminalia arjuna | 25 | |
| 2 | Kadampam | Mitragyna parvifolia | 8 | |
| 3 | Vaagai | albizia lebbeck | 5 | |
| 4 | Poovarasu | thespesia populnea | 47 | |
| 5 | iluppai | madhuca longifolia | 15 | |
| 6 | Mantharai | bauhinia racemosa | 10 | |
| 7 | Nagalingam | Couroupita guianensis | 3 | |
| 8 | Thaani maram | terminalia bellirica | 18 | |
| 9 | Naval | syzygium cumini | 15 | |
| 10 | Mazhilam | mimusops elengi | 15 | |
| 11 | Kondrai | cassia fistula | 10 | |
| 12 | Arasamaram | Ficus religiosa | 4 | |
| 13 | Thothakathi | Dalbergia latifolia | 20 | |
| 14 | Pethodeya | Spathodea campanulata | 5 | |
| Total | 200 | |||