Giving a push to the efforts across Kerala to protect water sources, around 130 schools in Kozhikode district have joined the drive to clean at least one water source each in their vicinity.
Jeevajalam, an initiative of the Student Army for Vivid Environment (SAVE), involves schools gathering public support to clean up an unused water source of their choice during April and May. Cleaning of a pond on the compound of Zamorin’s Higher Secondary School at Tali on Wednesday was the first.
A group of local people, alumni and current students worked through the day to remove some of the garbage that was deposited in the pond over the years. SAVE District Coordinator Vadayakkandi Narayanan said that it would take at least three days more to complete the cleaning of the pond, which is filled with algae and plastic.
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The action committee formed for the purpose plans to convert the pond into a swimming pool where the students could be given swimming lessons.
Meanwhile, other schools, mostly government or aided ones, have already identified the water sources, including ponds, wells or streams in their neighbourhood to be cleaned under the project.
The SAVE does not propose the direct involvement of students in the cleaning process considering the risk factor. On the other hand, the coordinators of school eco clubs will be in charge of coordinating the cleaning process with the help of local people’s representatives, environmental organisations or alumni.
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There are more than 1,200 schools in the district, and the SAVE aims to have that many water sources cleaned and restored and the schools that perform well will be rewarded.
Writer V.R. Sudheesh opened the cleaning drive at Tali on Wednesday.