Sullia: When a drought-like situation is prevailing throughout the state, a school near Sullia is exhibiting its rich water resources during the time of crisis. Thanks to water harvesting technique. While today’s education system is built on continuous comprehensive approach laying emphasis on activity based learning, Sneha school in Sullia has set an example in promoting ‘learning by doing’ form of education with best results on live display.
Believe it or not! It has taken two decades of hard work and perseverance to reach the desired goal.
It all began in the year 1996 when Chandrasekhar Damle purchased a three acre plot to build a school. The well in the land used to go dry during summer and it became a very serious issue to proceed further without water during those days. The land too was a rough terrain with bumpy spots and the rainwater used to flow downhill leaving the plot dry even after rains.
It was at this point when a simple mechanism was put in place and it was decided to level the field to remove the bumpy spots and construct a retainer wall to prevent the water going downhill. Small pits of 20 feet in length and 3 feet in width were dug at many places in the land to ensure that the water gets collected in those pits during rains. Small trenches were dug along the periphery of the pits so that the spread is uniform and the waterflow covers the entire plot during rainy season. Medicinal plants and special types of grass were planted to ensure that the moisture is retained in the ground during summer and also to enhance soil fertility.
Over the years, they started reaping the benefits of hard work, as the well within the school premises started retaining water even during the summer. Now, the excess water if any, ultimately flows downhill into the valley. Today the well supplies around 5000 liters of water a day for various purposes even during summer. The entire plot filled with plants has remained lush green even during the hottest months of summer.
The well water is sufficient to meet the drinking water, plantation and other needs of the area as the water level remains constant at around 5 feet even during the worst summer days.
Activity based teaching for children
The students are taught to conserve by water harvesting technique according to Dr Chandrashekar Damle, President, Sneha group of institutions. It has become a part of the curriculum over the years even before massive awareness campaigns were launched, setting a mile stone for all to replicate. In this hour of water scarcity the gram panchyaths, government agencies , NGO’s and even small private land owners can replicate the evergreen ideas adopted by Sneha school to make our planet earth withstand the ill-effects of global warming.
Here is a true example to prove that small steps in the right direction can produce long lasting results.
