KOZHIKODE: Before the middle of the ongoing academic year, the State Education Department will develop more than 13,000 bio-diversity parks and rain pits or recharge pits in the State”, said Education Minister Prof C. Raveendranath. He was speaking to the gathering at Medical College Campus Higher Secondary School after the State-Level launch of ‘Mazhakkoythulsavam’ organised as part of the World Environment Day on June 5(Monday).
“Recharge pits will be developed in all houses and educational institutions in the State with the support of the student community and the public. From tomorrow all the schools and other educational institutions will be directed to celebrate ‘Mazhakkoythulsavam’ in their respective institutions. The motto of the education department is to prepare the students to excel not just in academics but also in their individual life.
Briefing about a recharge pit, the Minister said, “The pit allows the rainwater to replenish groundwater by recharging the underground aquifers. It can be built to recharge a borewell or just to help the water infiltration in an area. Our soil once had the capacity of holding nearly 3,000 millimeter of rain but now after the soil got polluted with chemicals and plastic, it lost its strength. Attempts like recharge pit and rainwater harvesting are methods to regain the lost capacity. Hence in this rainy season our mission is to allow all rainwater to penetrate deep inside the soil and we will celebrate it," he added. A. Pradeep Kumar, MLA, presided over the function. Noted environmentalists Dr A. Achuthan and Shobindran Master were honoured during the day. The minister also released the handbook detailing the methods of making a rain pit.
