We flew in to Kochi on August 1 (Andrea and Eli from Delhi,
Christina from Hong Kong), met Mr. Sylas (a Ph.D student in
environmental science) at the airport and made the two hour drive to
Mahatmas Gandhi University outside Kottayam.
After breakfast the next morning, we drove Achinakom village, the
project site, with Mr. Sylas, Dr. Thomas (former director of MGU
School of Environmental Science), Prof. John, and Dr. Ramasamy
(current School director). We sat in on a general body meeting (all
in Malayalam; we were pretty lost but had some translation) with the
future system users, local committee members, and us from the
university. Although construction deadlines are approaching, the
atmosphere was pretty relaxed, with plenty of joking and smiling.
This was followed by a local committee meeting with the two
Panchayath (local government body) members from Achinakom, four
village representatives, and Suma (the women's self-help group
secretary). They set out a construction schedule for the system over
the next three weeks, with material delivery later this week and
building beginning on the ninth. It is expected to take twelve days
to finish construction and allow all concrete to cure. They also
agreed to open a bank account for project expenses in the name of
“Rainwater for Humanity – Achinakom.” Suma and a Panchayath
member will be signatories.
