Mangaluru
What began as a simple green patch initiative on private land in Kulshekar has turned into a remarkable revival of the neglected Vasaru Kodi also known as Soro Kodi pond. Environmentalist Jeeth Milan Roche led the efforts to restore the dying water body, which is now on the path to becoming a thriving ecosystem.
Aloysius D'Silva, a retired banker, told, it all began when our family decided to develop a green patch on 19 cents of ancestral property last month. Through environmentalist Roche, we planned to plant a few fruit-bearing trees. That's when we rediscovered the pond, unused for nearly 30 years. As a student, I remember this pond on the land inherited from our great-grandfather, Paul D'Silva. My son, who recently returned from the US, was also keen on reviving it. Thanks to Roche's efforts, we are delighted to have brought back a water body and are now developing a vibrant ecosystem around it.
Roche, founder of The Vana Charitable Trust, said, it is always a pleasure to be invited to create green spaces. When I first visited the site, I noticed the pond. Initially, the family even considered filling it up and going ahead with planting. I felt that would be a missed opportunity and an unnecessary expense. Interestingly, when D'Silva's son returned from the US, he strongly felt that the pond should be restored. As the name itself suggests, this is a place where water naturally collects. The volume of water we uncovered is remarkable, we went at least 12ft deep. We removed the silt, and the pond now looks fresh and full of life. The pond can carry around 11 lakh liters of water, but at present, it holds an estimated 7 lakh liters of water.
