Kovalam Panchayat Restores Ponds to Curb Seawater Intrusion and Recharge Groundwater

As of November 18th, 2025, the Kovalam panchayat has been actively working to recharge the area's groundwater and curb seawater intrusion by partnering with voluntary organizations to restore ponds in the locality. Kovalam, which has been dependent on water supply from neighboring areas due to a lack of sufficient freshwater sources, is now focusing on rejuvenating these ponds as a measure to push back seawater and restore the freshwater balance.

Residents have noted that the drinking water supply has improved in recent years, but the quality in borewells remains saline. Civic activist R. Narayanan emphasizes that reviving the ponds is essential to improve the groundwater quality in Kovalam, which is vulnerable to seawater intrusion. The collaborative efforts between the panchayat and groups like the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) have already led to the restoration of the Chetty Kulam pond and several other water bodies in the area.

The panchayat president, Shobana Thangam Sundar, states that the restoration of ponds is crucial to prevent seawater incursion, and the authorities plan to implement tourism activities in some of the revived ponds. EFI, which is involved in restoring six water bodies in Kovalam and seven more in nearby regions, focuses on storage regulation and infrastructure improvements to redirect and treat sewage, helping sustain the local ecosystem.