| Santhigiri ashram, Pothenkode, Thiruvananthapuram |
|
Download Database of featured talents. (Excel file) |
The 2000-inmate Santhigiri ashram at Pothankode in the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram is self sufficient in many respects, including water. The ashram, situated in a water-scarce area, utilizes the quarry in the compoud to collect 5 million litre of precious rainwater that meets the needs of the inmates and is an example worth emulating.
The rain falling on the ashram buildings is channelised using pipes to the storage pond. After it is filtered and purified using alum and chlorine, the water is fit for drinking.
In addition to converting the quarry into a storage pond, the ashram has established a series of rain-ditches to trap rain water and allow it to percolate to the ground. According to the inmates, since these measures, the ashram wells have never gone dry and the trees are always green.
In 1997, when the ashram decided to utilize the quarry for rainwater harvesting, no governmental agency or bank was willing to fund the project. It was then that they approached HUDCO who in turn sanctioned a loan of Rs.25 lakhs. Within 2 years, the ‘Karuna Drinking Water Project’ was inaugurated and the same year the ashram won a national award for noted practice in environmental protection.
Earlier, during the visit of large number of visistors during Kumbh Mela etc, the ashram had to arrange water to them through tanker lorries. According to the ashram secretary, only a fraction of the expense towards tanker lorries need to be made for repaying the loan to HUDCO.
Courtesy: Malayala Manorama, May 7, 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
