Completed Water Restoration Success
Project Overview
The Nerkundram Village Project in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, is a CSR initiative by the Nansei Research Foundation. The project successfully implemented water restoration strategies to improve farming livelihoods in a village where agriculture is the primary source of income.
Context and Challenge
- Village profile: Nerkundram, meaning “Heaps of Paddy,” has a population of 600+, with livelihoods entirely dependent on farming.
- Water scarcity: During summers and drought years, farmers faced severe water shortages, limiting crop cycles.
- Ecological setting: The village is surrounded by Edumichi and Chinnamalai forests and adjoins Edumichi Lake, the third-largest water body in the Chengalpattu–Kanchipuram belt.
Intervention Strategy
- Water and geological asset mapping: Detailed studies completed to identify solutions for increasing water availability.
- Phased implementation: Recommendations executed to improve groundwater recharge and ensure sustainable farming.
- Community engagement: Farmers encouraged to adopt non-pesticide farming practices, building trust through improved water access.
Impact Achieved
- Groundwater improvement: Interventions enhanced water availability across the village.
- Agricultural resilience: Farmers are now able to plan for an additional crop/season, increasing income potential.
- Sustainable practices: Transition toward non-pesticide farming is underway, supported by improved water security.
Lessons Learned
- Scientific mapping is vital: Asset mapping provided actionable insights for targeted interventions.
- Community trust matters: Improved water access encouraged farmers to embrace sustainable practices.
- Scalable model: The success at Nerkundram demonstrates replicability across other agrarian villages.
Future Outlook
The completed project has proven the effectiveness of CSR-driven rural water restoration. Future funding and partnerships will enable:
- Expansion of water restoration infrastructure.
- Deployment of advanced monitoring and GIS tools.
- Strengthening of farmer training in sustainable practices.
- Long-term resilience through master planning and flood mitigation.
- Water security for farming communities.
- Sustainable agriculture and improved farmer incomes.
- CSR and ESG-aligned impact for rural resilience.
Nansei Research Foundation is committed to delivering measurable outcomes in water restoration and sustainable farming. The completed Nerkundram Village Project stands as a case study of success, inspiring future collaborations for rural development across Tamil Nadu and beyond.