A ₹16 lakh restoration plan has been proposed for Perumanichira pond in Vengola panchayat near Perumbavoor after heavy rain damaged the reservoir’s edge and an adjoining road, raising concerns for water access, agriculture and nearby homes.
Under the funding decision reached during a site inspection and local-level discussion, Vengola panchayat will contribute ₹10 lakh and the Ernakulam district panchayat will provide ₹6 lakh. The funds are intended to support restoration of the pond and the damaged section of the road running alongside it.
The pond is the source for the Perumani Lift Irrigation Project, implemented during the tenure of former MLA P.P. Thankachan. More than 100 families and several acres of agricultural land depend on the reservoir for water, according to the report by Mathrubhumi.
The damage occurred after heavy rain in the area. The collapse affected the pond’s bank and the nearby route. Continued rainfall could increase the risk to houses close to the site, with the local administration also warning of a possible landslide threat in the surrounding area.
The site has already been part of an earlier improvement effort. Renovation work was included in the district panchayat’s annual plan for 2024-25, and contract work had begun. However, the work could not be completed after the ramps leading into the pond broke when an earthmover was brought to the site. Work was then stopped following protests by local residents.
The latest decision followed a joint visit and discussion led by MLA Manoj Moothedan, Tahsildar M. Maya, Vengola panchayat president Shameeda Shareef, vice-president V.H. Mohammed, district panchayat member T.S. Sumayya, panchayat member Anu Pathrose and village officer Sandhya.
The participation of both the gram panchayat and the district panchayat places the restoration within a shared local-government funding arrangement. The decision also reflects the pond’s combined role as an irrigation source and as infrastructure connected to the surrounding road network. Any restoration work will have to address both the damaged bank and access arrangements that previously failed during construction.
Residents and local representatives who attended the discussion included former block panchayat vice-president Joji Jacob, former panchayat vice-president Eldo Moses, K.N. Sukumaran, P.A. Kareem, M.M. Ravi, K.T. Avarachan and Arif Perumani.
The immediate next step is the preparation of the ₹16 lakh project plan and the implementation of restoration work through the local authorities. The report does not specify a completion date or a revised construction schedule.
