Daijiworld Media Network – Koppal (MS)

Koppal, Mar 17: If one has to learn how to use water during the hot summer season, when most of the water resources go dry, there is no better model than the system adopted by the villagers of Tuggaladoni in Kushtagi taluk of the district. The villagers got united and learnt how to use the water judicially during summer to avoid water scarcity.

The well in front of the Sharabasaveshwara temple is the main source of water for the villagers. The villagers maintain cleanliness around the well, so that the water does not get polluted. The youngsters in the village say that the elders of the village have stressed the judicial use of water.

All the efforts towards conserving water in the village started two years ago. The elders of the village, who saw some youngsters wasting the water of borewell, taught them the lesson of proper use of water. In addition, they decided to store the water from the borewell into a normal well.

The efforts of the elders of the village did not stop at this point. Instead of lifting the water from the well by electric pump, they pressurized the villagers to draw water using the old method of rope and pots. They came to the conclusion that by this method they can effectively manage the scarcity of water during summer. If the water is lifted through manual method instead of using an electric pump, the villagers think that the wear and tear of the earth will reduce, which will help the earth to retain more water.

This system is being followed in this village, which has a population of 1,500 people, from the past two years. According to the gram panchayat officer, this village does not have scarcity of water during the summer season. The villagers also say that the panchayat has helped the villagers in this regard.

All the villagers ensure that absolute cleanliness is maintained around the well. The villagers do not wear footwear while drawing water from the well. Washing of clothes or bathing of animals near the well is strictly prohibited. Only one person is allowed to draw water at a time and crowding is not allowed.