'Shuddha jala' campaign by Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project across Karnataka

Mangaluru: Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) has organised a “Shuddha jala abhiyana" (clean water awareness campaign) across the state in January. According to Anil Kumar S S, the Executive Director of SKDRDP, approximately 1.50 lakh people in the state are being educated about the use of clean water.

In recent times, due to increased population and environmental degradation in urban and rural areas, water scarcity has become a significant issue, making it difficult to provide clean drinking water to people.

In many villages across the state, people are still consuming contaminated water. In about 60 per cent of the state, drinking water contains excessive fluoride, 20 per cent has high nitrate levels, and 30 per cent is contaminated with microorganisms, leading to health issues.

The fluoride problem is particularly prevalent in many taluks of the state, he said.

Hearing about the issues caused by fluoride and contaminated water from devotees visiting the region, Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade decided to establish the first community clean drinking water unit in Karnataka. Consequently, in 2009, the first clean drinking water unit was inaugurated by Hemavathi V Heggade in Yagati, Kadur taluk, Chikmagalur district.

Anil Kumar said under the name 'Shuddhaganga', 481 clean drinking water units have been established across the state. Approximately 5,55,000 people use clean water daily, with 22 lakh litres of clean drinking water being provided through these units daily. Local organisations have also joined this ambitious project.

There is a lack of awareness among the general public regarding the use of clean water. To address it, a clean water awareness campaign is being organised in areas with Shuddhaganga units throughout January.

Over 500 programmes, including information sessions for schoolchildren, rallies, pamphlet distribution, street plays, public information programmes, meetings, and home visits for registration, are planned. Unit supervisors, motivators, local workers, and members of the Pragathibandhu Okkuta will be involved, he added.