Kasargod: Kerala’s Irrigation Minister Roshi Augustine announced the government’s goal of delivering clean drinking water to 78 lakh rural families in the state. He made this statement during the inauguration of a drinking water project’s treatment plant, which falls under the KIIFB scheme, in the Kasargod Municipal Council and Chemmad grama panchayat limits on Tuesday.

In Kerala, the groundwater level has been steadily decreasing over the years. The state has achieved notable success in delivering clean drinking water to its residents through the Jal Jeevan Scheme. Before assuming office, the government had extended access to drinking water to 17 lakh families. Presently, that number has increased to 38 lakh households.

The goal is to further expand this to 78 lakh households within the next two years. This announcement was made during an event presided over by MLA C. H Kunjambu, with Kasargod MLA M.N. in attendance, and Deputy Commissioner A Nellikunnu Impasekhar serving as the chief guest.

V. Prakashan, Assistant Engineer at the Kerala Water Authority, along with Sufaiza Aboobacker, President of Chemnad grama panchayat, and P. Sudhakaran, President of Muliyar grama panchayat were present. Other notable participants included Ushalaya Sivarajan, a board member of the Kerala Water Authority, B. K. Narayanan, Chairman of the Karadka block panchayat development standing committee, and Kunhambu Nambiar and Mansoor, block panchayat members.

 Additionally, leaders from various political parties were present. Speaking at the event were A. Sudhakaran, a representative of the Kerala Water Authority Union, and Pradeep Poovankar, a representative of the Kerala Water Authority Employees’ Association. The gathering was welcomed by Kerala Water Authority Engineer Sudeep, and the vote of thanks was proposed by Assistant Engineer Seema C Gopi.