Date:16/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/16/stories/2007121655870800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Project to quench thirst of 3 hamlets

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Rs. 4 lakh “Jaladhara” project, to provide drinking water to three hamlets from the natural springs of the Ranajilledu water falls in Araku mandal, was inaugurated on Saturday by D. Sarada Trust, an NGO, which executed the project in five months.

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has funded the project under its corporate social responsibility programme (CSR). SAIL Deputy General Manager (CSR) Shantha Rao inaugurated the project at Dummuguda, Dummuduga Colony and Sarada Bondaguda, all tiny hamlets with a population of about 450. The uniqueness of the project is that nowhere motor pump is used and the main pipe brings the water from the springs by gravitation to the Sarada Bondaguda where it is filtered in a huge 5,000 litre capacity tank and then redistributed to three villages which are located within a radius of two km again without any pumps. In each village, separate storage tanks have been constructed on ground and from there the water flows through taps. Hitherto the villagers, who are mostly Oriya speaking tribals, were fetching water from the Ranajilledu falls by trekking about 2-3 km. Water pipes have been laid for as long as 3.5 km. in the project which is located deep inside the valley where there is no proper road. It is learnt that considering the impact created by the project, the SAIL is planning to sponsor similar project in two more villages in the days to come. Ms. Shantha Rao also distributed prizes to winners of various sports competitions organised by the Sarada Trust in the villages.

SAIL DGM (Personnel) Jagannath Oleti, regional manager T.K. Pattnaik, Trust convenor K. Dakshayini and former Chief Engineer (irrigation) S. Satyanarayana participated.