Kerala - Kozhikode   

`Olavanna model' water schemes come in for praise

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, MARCH 22. The mini-drinking water projects initiated by the Olavanna grama panchayat, with public participation since 1986, have come in for commendation, including that of the World Bank.

Though a lot more need to be done, the water-starved panchayat, especially during summer, now draws sustenance from its mini-drinking water schemes managed by public committees. More than 5,000 families benefit from these projects.

76 projects

The grama panchayat president, K.Tilakam says: "The Olavanna model of people-participatory drinking water schemes has been cited as an exemplary instance when drinking water supply can be managed with a great deal of efficiency by the people themselves. As many as 76 such projects now function in Olavanna, with 170 to 60 families benefiting from each."

"The beneficiaries themselves identify the land. The grama panchayat implements the construction. In some of the schemes, the beneficiaries provide as much as half the project fund. There were schemes where the projects were wholly funded by the beneficiaries," she says.

People's committees

People's committees set up for the purpose take care of maintenance and electricity charges. The grama panchayat authorities have been providing wholehearted support too.

However, there are problems when power supply is snapped due to non-payment of electricity bills. People have to go without water for days together.

The vice-president of Olavanna grama panchayat, M.M. Sasidharan, said three projects of the Kerala Water Authority were taken up for management by the people's committees.

He says, of late, the recharge of water has come down as a result of the increase in population. The groundwater level too is low.

"The beneficiary committees manage all the activities for the smooth conduct of the project. In 1999-2000, the World Bank took note of the water schemes implemented by the Olavanna panchayat as a model."

The Jalanidhi drinking water scheme is not being implemented in Olavanna, he adds.

The first scheme here was the Kambiliparambu project with 14,000-litre capacity. The scheme estimate ranged from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 15 lakhs.

With the introduction of the People's Plan Programme, the grama panchayat started earmarking allotments from the Plan Fund for implementing drinking water projects.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

`Olavanna model' water schemes come in for praise
Hajira remanded to judicial custody
VAT cell in Kozhikode

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu