While abandoned quarries are death traps in many parts, rural Kareepra in Kollam is all set to put its water-filled pits to better use. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Kerala, water from such quarries will be pumped using solar energy and diverted to canals criss-crossing the local body for irrigation.
The panchayat has a handful of deserted quarries in its limits and authorities say they plan to maintain groundwater level during summer months through the project.
“We have quarries that are 50 ft deep lying idle. Since their licences will not be renewed, they have no other use and Kareepra is a panchayat facing acute water shortage. The project was planned in coordination with the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT),” says Kareepra grama panchayat president P.S. Prashobha.
