It seems like the water woes of the Borstal School at Thrikakkara will come to an end soon with the authorities deciding to start a huge rain-water harvesting plant in the school compound.
According to the officials of the Borstal School, there is an acute water shortage in the institution which is affecting its functioning.
The rain-water harvesting plant allotted by the Prison Department has a capacity of 10 lakh litres. Though the district panchayat had promised to implement such a plant here a year ago, it was cancelled owing to the lack of fund.
“The construction of rain water harvesting plant will complete within a year. The rain harvesting plant will be relief for us during summer season. Now, we get water from pipeline of Kerala Water Authority (KWA). But, during summer, the water pipe dry down. Then we have to depend on tanker lorries. Water is brought in tanker lorries twice in a week. But, once the plant is set up, we can stop depending on tankers to an extend,” officials of the Borstal School said.
According to Kamarudheen, superintendent, Borstal School, the project is implemented by the Prisons Department. “A fund of `29 lakh has been set aside for the rain-water harvesting plant project by the Prisons Department. At present, there are more the 60 inmates and during the summer it is very difficult to get enough water. The tender will be floated soon,” Kamarudheen said.
Borstal School is set up aiming at reforming juvenile delinquents and bringing them back to the mainstream society. The boys and girls at the age of 18 to 22 who are convicted in various cases are admitted to the school. The school was dysfunctional for more than a decade before it was reopened last year.