SKDRDP to instal 3 Shudhaganga units in Chikkamagaluru

Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) is planning to implement 84 Shudhaganga  drinking water units to provide pure drinking water in Hassan, Davangere, Kadur, Doddaballapura, Chamarajanara, Chikkamagaluru and Devanahalli, during the year.

A press release said that of the total 84 units, 50 units in Hassan, 17 in Davangere, one each in Kadur and Doddaballapur, 2 in Chamarajanagar, 3 in Chikkamagaluru and 4 in Devanahalli, are being implemented and they are in construction stage. The work on 30 units have been completed and are supplying water.

“From past three years we are blessed with pure drinking water. Else we had to bring water from far away places. Health problems were common because of the fluoride content in water,” said Rathnamma of Kadur.

The programme began 8 years ago (in 2009). The first Shudhaganga unit was started at Yagati of Kadur taluk in Chikkamagaluru.

As a result of its success, now there are 284 Shudhaganga units functioning in the state. Around 200 units, including 37 in Chikkamagaluru, 7 in Hassan, 39 in Tumakuru, 4 in Belagavi, 13 in Haveri, 4 in Dharwad, 27 in Chithradurga, 3 in Ballari, 22 in Davangere, one in Anekal, 19 in Koppala, 2 in Raichur, 3 in Kolar, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar and 16 units in Gadag district are supplying pure drinking water. In total, water is being supplied from 230 units.

33,908 families benefitted

Using these units, members of 33,908 families use around 10, 87,480 litres of pure drinking water. In fact, the programme was initiated by SKDRDP President D Veerendra Heggade after finding out that thousands of people suffer from health issues following high-content of fluoride in water.

“Here impure water is purified through a process called “reverse osmosis”.  A small building to house sufficient storage tanks for impure and pure water and machinery for purifying the water are the basic requirements of the project.

The users will come and fetch water in 20-litre jerry cans. The programme is being implemented with the help of the Gram Panchayat, the Zilla Panchayat officials and the public representatives,” the release said.