Mother nature has bestowed the most powerful radioactive minerals to the Chavara – Panmana, coastal belt of Kollam. May be because of the abundance of minerals and being a coastal area, these two Panchayats lack fresh water supply. In Kerala, most of the rural houses depend on wells for drinking water. But in Chavara and Panmana, wells dug at a certain depth have contaminated water, rich in minerals and ores. This water is of orange colour and has to be filtered twice or thrice to give it a semblance of pure water look. Very old wells in this area still have fresh water in them. But after the recent tsunami, which hit the coastal area of Kollam and Alappuzha, many of the wells have coloured water because of geographical changes.
Now the Central Government, Kerala Government, Chavara and Panmana Grama Panchayats have joined hands to start a Comprehensive Drinking Water Supply scheme for Chavara and Panmana Panchayats. The scheme estimated to cost Rs. 28 crore will be completed by December 2007.
There are 10,541 families in Panmana Panchayat. Special Grama Sabhas are being held in 22 wards of the Panchayat. The scheme is being held under the supervision of Gram Panchayat, Scheme level Committee, Water level Committee and beneficiaries. From each ward, there will be 10 members and the local ward member. President, Secretary and Treasurer are elected from among these members.
Each beneficiary will have to pay Rs. 1200 as one time payment. They will get pure drinking water from Sasthancottah Lake, the largest fresh water lake in Kerala. There will be a tap and meter connected. Beneficiaries will have to pay according to the meter reading for maintenance and user charges. Once the scheme is implemented, all the beneficiaries in Chavara and Panmana Panchayats will get chlorinated fresh drinking water, 24 hours a day.
The scheme is implemented in Panmana by Jalanidhi (KRWSA), Panmana Grama Panchayat, with the help of the Centre for Environment Development. Of the total sanctioned Rs. 28 crore for the scheme, Rs. 14 crore each is spent for Panmana and Chavara Panchayats.
Panmana Panchayat President Smt. Asha Cheriyan said that this comprehensive drinking water scheme would be a boon to all the rural people in her Panchayat. “The coastal area of one Panchayat is facing acute fresh water shortage. After tsunami, the iron and fluoride content in the well water has multiplied. Moreover, even before that, because of mineral content in the sand, most of the well water is contaminated”.
Shri Rajkrishnan, teacher in Chavara said that the scheme is going to be beneficial for all the people in Chavara and Panmana.
Unlike many other schemes, this is unique because it is implemented with the active support of beneficiaries. The Panchayat is directly involved in every decision making part of implementation. When fresh water flows from Sasthamcottah Lake to Chavara and Panmana Panchayat, it will be a dream come true for the local people. For them, it is nectar from heaven, not just tap water.
*Information Assistant, PIB, Thiruvananthapuram