MLA James Mathew off to study Aamir model' of conservation

Kozhikode: Actor Aamir Khan  has many fans in Kannur-not for his acting prowess, but for the  watershed management programme he has initiated in Satara district, Maharashtra. A 13-member team led by  Taliparamba MLA James Mathew will tour the district from  Saturday to study how the villagers were involved in the watershed management programme under Paani Foundation, the NGO founded by  Khan.  “We will not  replicate the Maharashtra story in Kerala. We are interested to learn how the communities were actively roped in the water conservation programmes,”   the MLA said.  Paani Foundation’s ‘Satyamev Jayate Water Cup’ competition witnessed 1,300- plus villages vying  to preserve water by effectively making use of watershed management programmes.

Last year, the total water storage created by the competing villages was 1,368 crore litres  which is equal to 13,68,000 tankers of water. This is equal to water worth Rs 272 crore   which the country has saved annually, according to the NGO website. “The 45-day  competition is a strategy of the foundation to induce water conservation methods in drought-hit villages through the ‘Shramadhan’ of villagers,” observes noted water harvesting journalist  Shree Padre. Paani Foundation aims to make Maharashtra drought-free in five years.

It was Mr Padre who alerted the MLA on the silent revolution going on in Maharashtra. “In Taliparamba constituency,  we had kickstarted a programme to recharge all wells in Pariyaram grama  panchayat.  Rs 8,600 would be allotted per well. A rivulet in Kurumathur grama panchayat had made wonders in creating water abundance by constructing many check dams,” remarked the MLA. Irikoor and  Thaliparambu block presidents, presidents of three grama panchayats and the  NABARD assistant general manager are part of the delegation. The team will present Kuttiyattoor mango saplings as a gift to Satara villagers.