Environmentalist Foundation of India

The Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) is an environmental conservation group based out of Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry and Coimbatore which focuses on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. Started in 2007 and registered in 2011, the organisation is known for its work in cleaning and scientific restoration of lakes in India for biodiversity.[1]

Activities

EFI focuses on restoration of lakes, flora, care of stray animals and a village development programme. Most of the organisation's work is carried out through volunteer support.[2] EFI organises lake clean ups every Sunday and as of 2014 had cleaned 39 lakes across India. This includes Madambakkam,[3] Keezhkattalai, Narayanapuram, and Arasankazhani lakes in Chennai; the Selvachintamani Kulam in Coimbatore;[4] and the Kapra, Alwal, Gurunadham Cheruvu lakes in Hyderabad.[5]

In the cases of Arasankazhani lake and the Selvachintamani Kulam, the projects were executed through public funding in the first and government support for the second. The lakes now have "G" shaped central islands for the birds to nest and fish to spawn. These geometric central islands are a first of its kind, with wind barrier capabilities and roosting facilities. The lakes also have percolation trenches and parallel bunds which ensure water retention and trapping of garbage.[4][6][7][8]

EFI is also involved in the setting up of herbal biodiversity gardens at schools and special interest zones. The idea behind the herbal gardens are to increase people's interest in green cover and live healthy with native Indian herbs.[9] EFI's "Clean for Olive Green" is a beach clean up project that is organised every year in the months of December to May to keep Chennai's beaches clean for the nesting Sea Turtle Mothers.[10]

EFI is active in Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Delhi, Srinagar and Thiruvananthapuram. The organisation is known for cleaning the beach stretch between Veli and Vizhinjiam in Thiruvananthapuram part of the Beach Habitat Restoration. [11]

EFI Chennai

The Environmentalist Foundation of India's weekend voluntary clean ups are a regular in lakes such as Keezhkattalai, Madambakkam, Tiruneermalai, Adambakkam, Perumbakkam, Sithalapakkam, Mudichur lakes. [12] These clean ups see several volunteers such as students, working class and senior citizen participating.

2016 Lake Restorations in Chennai

Post the 2015 floods, EFI's role in mobilizing volunteers and restoring freshwater bodies in Chennai became furthermore important. Immediately post the monsoons, the organization started working on restoration of 3 ponds within the Perungalathur Town Panchayat. [13] Following which scientific restoration efforts were undertaken at the Arasankazhani Lake, Karasangal Lake, Mudichur Ponds, Karasangal Pond and West Mambalam Pond. [14] [15] [16]

Dal Lake

EFI in association with a local group called Arastha in Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir is involved in a multi-phase community based conservation of the Dal Lake. The two year long effort is voluntary with involvement from local citizens, shikaras, houseboat owners and the students in Srinagar. The efforts are aimed at cleaning the Dal Lake and maintaining it as an ecologically sensitive habitat. [17] [18]

Water Security Mission

The Government of Tamil Nadu launched a water security mission in the year 2015. The project is to focus on 15 lakes around Chennai which would be cleaned and scientifically restored. The Chennai Metro water is the nodal agency and Environmentalist Foundation of India is the executing NGO partner. 15 lakes chosen included the Madambakkam, Perumbakkam, Mudichur, Thiruverkadu, Keezhkattalai, Medavakkam, Adambakkam, Arasankazhani, Madipakkam, Puzhithivakkam lakes and more. This is seen as an effort to improve Chennai's water table and conserve these ecological habitats.[19] [20]

Lake Savaari

In an effort to connect people with environment, Environmentalist Foundation of India is organising a weekly Lake Savaari. Lake Savaari is an ecological safari aimed at increasing public awareness on freshwater habitats in Chennai. The safari is a free guided trip in which participants are taken to six lakes in Chennai where the Geology-Hydrology and Biodiversity are briefly explained. The lake safari is a 3-hour guided tour starting and ending at Thiruvanmiyur covering the Sholinganallur Pond, Arasankazhani Lake, Perumbakkam Lake, Medavakkam Lake and Narayanapuram Lake.[21]

Founding

EFI was founded by Arun Krishnamurthy when initiated the cleaning of a pond in Mudichur and a lake in Hyderabad. The organisation's approach to recruit volunteers through school and college orientation programmes received support with many students joining them.[22] Arjun Arya became the first volunteer to join the organisation and six years later is the Research Head at EFI.[23] EFI's team received support from like minded people across the spectrum who joined them as volunteers in their Sunday clean ups.[24]

Recognition

The EFI has received voluntary support from celebrities of film industry as well, including Kamal Hasan[29] and Trisha Krishnan.[30]

References

  1. ↑ "INDIA ENVIRONMENT". indiaenvironment.org.
  2. ↑ "Eco warriors take to social media". The Times of India.
  3. ↑ Akila Kannadasan. "Setting a dream afloat". The Hindu.
  4. 1 2 Staff Reporter. "Selvachinthamani Tank in Coimbatore to be scientifically restored". The Hindu.
  5. ↑ Akila Kannadasan. "Men are from marsh!". The Hindu.
  6. ↑ "Bid to keep sewage out of Selvapuram lake". The Times of India.
  7. ↑ "Former Google Staffer Works on Lake Restoration". The New Indian Express.
  8. ↑ T.S. ATUL SWAMINATHAN. "Residents, EFI join hands to revive Arasankazhani lake". The Hindu.
  9. ↑ http://www.indiaenvironment.org/what_we_do.html#plantation
  10. ↑ http://www.sify.com/news/beach-clean-up-to-support-olive-ridley-nesting-imagegallery-national-mb5oXDjdjagsi.html
  11. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/ridding-beaches-of-garbage/article8348295.ece
  12. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/features/downtown/efi-to-take-up-scientificrestoration-of-lakes/article8289579.ece
  13. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/residents-hail-revival-of-suburban-ponds/article8642685.ece
  14. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-downtown/efi-restores-waterbodies-in-karasangal-mudichur/article9216690.ece
  15. ↑ http://newstodaynet.com/chennai/pond-chennai-gets-green-makeover
  16. ↑ http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2016/07/efi-saving-a-pond-in-chennai/
  17. ↑ http://www.earlytimes.in/m/newsdet.aspx?q=172571
  18. ↑ http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/srinagar-city/awareness-program-on-dal-conservation-held/212963.html
  19. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/water-security-mission-to-watch-out-for-citys-needs/article7700011.ece
  20. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/more-citizens-initiatives-for-restoring-waterbodies/article7748606.ece
  21. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-downtown/efi-to-organise-a-savaari-to-city-lakes/article7747933.ece
  22. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/nurturing-nature/article3888710.ece
  23. ↑ http://www.indiaenvironment.org/team_efi.html
  24. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-downtown/project-100-to-clean-up-lakes/article5741349.ece
  25. ↑ http://www.rolexawards.com/profiles/young_laureates/arun_krishnamurthy
  26. ↑ the Jane Goodall Institute
  27. ↑ Youth leader receives Goodall award - Times-Standard Online
  28. ↑ Rolex Awards for Enterprise : Arun Krishnamurthy : Profile
  29. ↑ "Kamal Haasan celebrates birthday with a clean up drive". THE HINDU. 7 November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Trisha Krishnan volunteers to clean animal home". Zee News. 3 December 2014.

External links

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