HOSUR (Tamil Nadu): Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, on Tuesday dedicated the rejuvenated Kumudepalli Lake in Hosur to the residents of the village.
Situated in the vicinity of Ashok Leyland Hosur Plant, the ceremony was held in the presence of Thiru C. Kathriravan, IAS, District Collector, Krishnagiri; Dr. J. U. Chandrakala, IAS, Sub Collector, Hosur; N.V Balachandar, President – HR, Communication and CSR, Ashok Leyland; and Harihar P. Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Project Planning.
Ashok Leyland had taken up the rejuvenation of the lake as part of its CSR project in December 2017. Within three months, the lake and its surrounding areas have been transformed and will be an integral part of the local community and ecosystem. The vast expanse of 4.5 hectares of land area-water with a storage capacity of 60Lakh KL is now clean and self-sustaining. The lake stores water from the rains and PWD Irrigation Canal. It is used for irrigation and fishing. In this water-scarce area, survival of this lake is essential for the local population.
N.V Balachandar, President – HR, Communication and CSR, Ashok Leyland, has been overseeing this project. He said, “This year Ashok Leyland will be completing 70 years of its formation, and this lake cleaning project is one more addition to the many CSR and sustainability projects that we have undertaken since the inception of the company. We believe in long-lasting impact for any CSR activity we undertake. Whether it is our ‘Road to School’ project where we are making life-changing impact in children’s lives or this project, where we intend to make a positive change to the local ecology. Initiatives like this are close to our heart and it is our way of giving back to the society and Mother Nature. We have undertaken several other projects like this within and near our facilities. We will continue to drive this positive change and help people lead a better and more sustainable life.”
Before Ashok Leyland committed to this project, there were bushes along the roadside adjacent to the lake and it was used as a waste dumping and burning area. Weeds had blocked the water surface making the survival of the lake very difficult. Local government school children were also using the pathway to commute despite being unsafe, especially after sunset.
With the objective of preserving the lake and surrounding areas from pollution and land encroachment, Ashok Leyland took up the challenge to make this area safe and beautiful for the Community. The lake will also serve as a reservoir for rain water harvesting. Now, with requisite government permissions, the lake is free of weed and domestic waste.
It has been desilted and formation of the island is also complete. A cross-over bridge has been constructed and shore-side has been stone pitched. A new 400 metre pathway is now in place with three feet high steel fencing and physical barrier for safety of school children using lakeside pathway.
