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| K.J.Joseph Kaniyamparambil & K.E.Thankappan, Koruthode, Kottayam Ph: 94474 20363 |
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Developed by K.J.Joseph Kaniyamparambil, a young farmer of Koruthode, Kottayam and promoted by K.E.Thankappan, the Kottayam District Secretary of Kerala Consumer Association, the ‘Mainakulam model’ water harvesting structure is gaining attention due to its cost effectiveness. Already more than 200 such tanks have been constructed in Koruthode and Madukka areas.
The essential part of the structure consists of a silpaulin sheet spread to hug the contours of a ditch dug in the ground to trap rainwater. While a ferro-cement structure for similar purpose costs approximately Rs1.25 to 1.50 per litre, the cost of a silpaulin tank comes to barely 14 paise per litre.
The construction of the structure does not require any skilled effort. After digging the tank with the walls tapering inwards, plastic covers and polythene bags are spread in the ditch. The silpaulin is spread over this. The edge of the pit is raised 30cm by means of brickwork. The water used for drinking purposes is covered with mosquito net and finally covered with a back plastic sheet – and the structure is ready.
Sobhana, who constructed a 25000 litre capacity tank in her 4˝-cent land says that since the last 3 years, all the water required for household and irrigation purposes is being obtained from this tank. Although banks and lending institutions were initially reluctant to finance the construction of these structures, now they too have realized the significance of the venture and are changing their views.
Courtesy: Jiji Elappara, Karshakan, June 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
