MG No: 59584.
This project is a test for human endurance, proof of Rotarians’ deep commitment to service and an excellent endeavor in providing relief to the needy. After personally seeing this project today, I am proud to say I am a Rotarian
-TRF Trustee and RI Director Nominee K.R.Ravindran.
“It has taken us nearly 15 years of effort with our Central and State Governments to get a bridge to connect our island with mainland but Rotary has taken only a few months to provide us good drinking water.”
They (Rotarians) said that it is God who sent them here to help us (the Kodiyampalayam residents) by providing a desalination plant to give good drinking water. But we feel they (Rotarians) are God who saw our sufferings and helped by providing clean water.
-Village leader of Kodiyampalayam Village.
These were the sentiments expressed on the evening of 3rd March 2008, when TRF Trustee and RI Director Nominee K.R.Ravindran visited Kodiyampalayam Village (an island) and inaugurated the Desalination Plant and dedicated it to the residents.
Speaking on the occasion, Trustee Ravindran said that after seeing the project in person, the way it was executed and the jubilant and grateful mood of the beneficiaries, HE FELT PROUD TO BE A ROTARIAN.
He further said that though the project cost is US$ 70,000 on paper, the amount of personal involvement of Rotarians of Rotary Club of Salem Centennial, who had to travel 120 miles from their home town to reach the project site, cannot be quantified in terms of money.
Kodiyampalayam, an island, lies about 18 Kms (about 11 miles) east of Chidambaram, which itself lies around 260 Kms (160 miles) from Chennai. The road from Chidambaram to Kodiyampalayam is bad at some stretches. And then there is a ride by boat, though for a few minutes, to reach the village.
Villagers had no access to safe drinking water and were drawing water from ground with the help of hand pumps. Most of the times, the water was salty, though after some heavy monsoon, for a short period, the water taste was bearable. There was no supply of water by trucks the Government authorities since there was no road connecting the mainland and island.
This was one of those villages affected by Tsunami on the 26th of December 2004. Apart from taking away some lives, the waves also polluted the ground water sources which turned saline.
In February 2005, Rtn. Art McCullough of Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, RI Dist. 5340,California, USA, in a mail to Rtn.PDG. Srinivasa Gobalan of Salem Centennial, offered to help by providing a desalination plant for helping Tsunami victims.
In March 2005, Salem Centennial Rotarians met with the then collector of Nagapattinam, Dr.J.Radhakrishnan IAS. He suggested that a desalination plant be provided at Kodiyampalayam, as he believed that Rotarians are capable of accepting challenging service opportunities. Keeping Rtn. Art McCullough’s offer, Salem Centennial Rotarians accepted the challenge. Thus was born the Kodiyampalayam water project.
Preliminary work like visiting the village, collecting water samples and testing them and preparing a report on the project were done by Rotary Club of Salem Centennial.
Project Coordinator Rtn PDG Srinivasa Gobalan visited USA in June 2005 and met with Rotarians of Escondido Sunrise club and also visited Pure O Tech Inc, suppliers of the plant, to see a demonstration plant.
On 27th February 2006, nearly a year after the conception of the project, application was made to TRF. On 29th March 2006, the grant was approved under MG# 59584.
Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD Board) was approached to provide a building to house the plant and they agreed to do so after the arrival of the plant at site.
Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk helped in importing of the plant since they had a valid FCRA approval.
The plant arrived in Chennai port in September 2007 and was moved to the village.
TWAD board completed the building in February 2008 and the plant was moved into the building.
To augment water supply, two bore wells were dug and necessary motors provided.
In view of the frequent power failures and low voltage problems, a diesel generator was provided.
Rotary Club of Salem Centennial helped residents of Kodiyampalayam village in forming the Kodiyampalayam Nala Sangam (Kodiyampalayam Residents’ Welfare Society) which body would take care of the operation and maintenance of the plant.
On the 3rd of March 2008,TRF Trustee and RI Director Nominee, Rtn.K.R.Ravindran inaugurated the project and dedicated the plant to the residents of Kodiyampalayam. He also handed over the Agreement bond between Rotary Club of Salem Centennial and Kodiyampalayam Nala Sangam to the village leaders.
The event was covered by several regional newspapers. (Scanned copies of clippings enclosed.)
The important challenge in this project was the difficulty in shifting materials from mainland to the island with the help of a traditional boat.
Rotary Club of Salem Centennial had the first (formation) meeting on 24th December 2004. The tsunami struck 2 days later and the Centennial members decided to turn this adversity into an opportunity for service.
Even as a provisional club, they rushed to Nagapattinam,(about 160 miles from Salem) and joined the local clubs in doing relief works.
They adopted 45 children, orphaned by Tsunami, for a period of 3 years and have been providing them with educational materials, uniforms etc.,
With the help of Rotary friends from District 5130, California, USA, they reconstructed an old hospital for women and children. One portion of the hospital was declared open by the then R.I. Pres. Bill Boyd, who visited Tsunami affected areas of Tamilnadu, India, in August 2007.
