CPM to test waters with rain harvest drive

Kollam: The CPM, in an effort to reaffirm its social commitment,   will launch a campaign to replenish the ground water level to solve the drinking water scarcity in the district.  

As part of its environmental campaign titled ‘Mazhakkoythu,’  the party volunteers will dig over 2.5 lakh rain water harvesting pits in households in the  district which will be inaugurated by party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan at Kilikolloor on April 24.  Politburo member M.A. Baby will also be present on the occasion.

“Thirty blocks in the district have been hit by  serious depletion of ground water level and about half of these, including Chittumala block,  have been marked as critical due to extensive sand mining and brick kilns. The volunteers will visit households and, with their permission,  dig pits of one cubic metre in dimension. We will also  supply coconut and vegetable saplings to be planted in these pits,” Mr K.N. Balagopal MP, CPM Kollam district secretary, said.

The initiative is a continuation of the projects undertaken by the party, including palliative care, bio-agriculture  and garbage disposal.

As a preliminary step, pits will be dug in households of 619 party members in Kilikolloor. The volunteers and squad leaders will be made aware of the scientific aspects of rain water harvesting pits by Mr. Nalinakumar, water resource department extension faculty.

Over 100 children along with prominent artists in the district will paint pictures spreading the message  of water harvesting on April 23. The project aims at harvesting rain water six times the capacity of Sasthamkotta lake  in the district.