There is water everywhere but it does not help anyone to sip even a drop. It is very difficult to fetch drinking water in Bandaruvanipeta which is located adjacent to sea near Kalingapatnam, 27 km away from Srikakulam town.
The women used to walk almost three km to fetch drinking water from wells which dried up during summer season.
However, one can find smiles on the faces of the women with the establishment of a desalination project by the Tata Projects Community Development Trust in association with ARTS, a non-governmental organisation.
The Trust has spent around ₹65 lakh for the establishment of the project which converts sea water into safe drinking water. The villagers pay 20 paise per litre and the amount is spent for the maintenance of the project.
Trust’s Field officer Narendra Soma and ARTS Director Nuka Sanyasi Rao thanked Srikakulam Collector P. Lakshmi Narasimham for allowing cyclone shelter building to establish the project. “We have done a detailed study before establishment of the project. After intensive research, the equipment of the desalination was established. Its maintenance is a major challenge. That is why, we have appointed a dedicated team,” said Mr. Sanyasi Rao and Mr. Narendra.
Local women B.Dhanalakshmi and K.Ramulamma urged the Tata Trust to ensure supply of water continuously to help the entire village which has a population of 15,000. “Comapred to other fishermen villages, our Bandaruvanipeta is located very near to the sea coast where it is difficult to get drinking water. No one has taken the initiative to supply water through tanks all these years. Now, the desalination project is a boon for all the village,” said Ms. Dhanalakshmi.
Expansion
After getting the positive feedback from the locals, the Trust expanded its activities to other areas. As many as 110 water plants are being established in select areas including the Uddanam region to help kidney patients get safe drinking water. As many as 80 plants were already established and others are likely to be ready within two months. The local self-help groups would maintain the plants and supply water to the villagers at nominal cost. The members of the Tata Trust supervise their maintenance with their representatives.
