Infosys deploys 100 tankers in Karnataka's drought-hit villages

BENGALURU: Infosys Foundation has launched a project called Jala Dhaara in drought-hit villages of Dharwad Haveri and Gadag districts where it has deployed 100 tankers to provide drinking water.

The programme has been going on for the past one week and it is happy that it has been quick to respond to the drought situation even before the sta te government launched an action plan.

The Foundation, which is the non profit arm of software bellwether In fosys, tests the water at labs for potabi lity before supplying to the needy peo ple. “We will supply water as long as we get requests. We are responding in only those places where we have a strong network of volunteers,“ Sudha Murty, chairperson at Infosys Foun dation, told ET. “Budget is not an is sue. We will keep supplying water as long as there is a need,“ she said.

The Foundation has also bought five earth movers and deployed them in these districts to dig ponds and wells so that they collect water when it ra ins. The team is working in associa tion with gram panchayats and is dig ging ponds only at places suggested by a gram panchayat. While the Founda tion has invested the capital costs, the gram panchayat concerned will have to bear the recurring cost like driver's daily wages. “If villagers manage the se ponds well and impound water, they can use it for about 240 days in a day, in cluding during the rainy season,“ Murty said.

In the next four days, the Foundation will also begin supplying dry grass in the drought-hit regions of Mumbai Karnataka region so that people don' sell off their cattle, sheep, goat etc., in distress.