Natural Resources Development Project

This month newsletter we bring you two panels from Gramodaya Park that explain the importance of traditional water harvesting and water management systems which exist throughout South India. The Traditional water bodies (TWB) which we are renovating as part of the Green Rameshwaram projects are part of this larger systems. The principles behind these systems are explained in these panels. They should be understood to realize the context and importance of the renovation work that is being carried out by VK-nardep in Rameshwaram.

“It is big enough to bathe temple elephants” : Vivekananda Kendra, which is working on ‘Green and Clean Rameswaram’ project, has discovered two ‘theerthams’ (venerated waterbodies) — Chinnatharavai Bramha Gundam, popularly known as ‘Bramha theertham,’ and Parasuramar theertham in Rameswaram island.

This month newsletter we give you a bird's eye view of the endangered shells of the Gulf of Mannar area - of which Rameswaram is a part. This is in continuation with our green Rameswaram series on bio-diversity of the region. Apart from the shells or the molluscan species the coral reef also play a very crucial role in the safeguarding of the marine fish populations. It has been documented that in this biodiversity hot-spot fishes belonging to 27 families and 50 species live.

CHENNAI: The centuries-old Rameswaram temple is getting a much-needed facelift with religious organsiations and corporates donating money to refurbish it. Two more rajagopurams (big towers) are being constructed on the northern and southern end of the temple with donations from Sringeri Sankaracharya and a Coimbatore-based businessman.

This month newsletter brings you another excerpt from our book on the biodiversity of Rameshwaram - Gulf of Mannar region. Here we present the different turtles as well as the biodiversity inherent in the corals of the region. The Gulf of Mannar region provides a very interesting heterogeneous group of flora and fauna. From this region about 3600 species have been identified. Of this, 186 species are commercially exploited, 116 are vulnerable and 7 are considered as endangered. In the case of fishes of the 2200 fish species distributed in Indian waters, 441 species have so far been recorded in Gulf of Mannar. Gulf of Mannar is one of the best regions in the Indian region in fish biodiversity richness.

This month in our newsletter you can see how the local traditions can be revived for the protection of the bio-diversity and social coherence. What we have presented are excerpts from our publication, published as part of 'Green Rameshwaram' and the UNICEF WaSH initiative. They are also part of the panels in the awareness creation exhibition conducted at  various places in the island of Rameshwaram. In our 'Happenings' we have Azolla workshop, workshops on indigenous Varma-Bone setting techniques, Bio-methanation plant training and awareness camps.