The two ponds C1 and C2 at the township of Indian Steel and Wire Products (ISWP), a Tata Steel subsidiary near Telco will undergo massive desiltation work supposedly being carried out after about five decades.

The desiltation work has already begun at the two ponds - C1 pond covering an area of 18,300 sq mt (square meter) and C2 pond covering an area of 29, 300 sq mt.

ISWP, a leading steel and wire products manufacturer of the country, has roped in a Chennai based firm for executing the desiltation as well as beautification work of the twin ponds.

Officials of the company supervising the project said the desiltation -cum-beautification work is expected to take two months time.

"About 14,000 tonnes of silt have been taken out from the C2 pond," said an official deputed at the project site to oversee the desiltation work adding that the process of clearing silt from the C1 pond, located close to the newly built Naval Tata Hockey Academy will begin soon.

Regarding the beautification work, the official said a children’s park with swings and other facilities of entertainment would come up at one corner of the C2 pond, which is bigger in area.

Moreover, they have plans of installing sprinklers and fountains at the C2 pond.

As part of the beautification of both ponds, they will have sitting arrangements for visitors, landscaping and proper barricading for safety.

The silt taken out from the ponds would be used for gardening and other related activities.

Local residents used the ponds to dump garbage and other waste apart from immersion of idols.

Several cases of suicides have also been reported in the past in both the ponds, the maximum being at the C2 pond.

"We appeal to the local people of the township not to dirty the ponds once the desiltation work gets completed. We need their co-operation in proper upkeep of the twin ponds, "said a company official.