By IANS
Kottayam (Kerala) : ‘Vakkachan’s rainponds’, a pioneering technique developed by P. J. Varghese for rainwater harvesting, has been awarded the prestigious Citi Micro Entrepreneur award 2007.
The award of Rs.200,000 was given to Varghese alias Vakkachan Wednesday in Mumbai.
The Citi Micro Entrepreneur Awards programme is supported by the Citi Foundation through a total grant of $200,000 to Partners in Change (PiC), a Delhi-based NGO.
‘Vakkachan’s rainponds’ are nothing but a cost effective artificial water reservoirs which are build using two layers UV sterilized plastic sheets and a plastic net, a press release said.
37-year-old Vakkachan developed this technology almost a decade back and it got its first recognition in 2000 when he got a certification from the National Innovation Foundation.
Speaking to IANS Friday, Vakkachan said that his artificial pond is now used for harvesting rainwater as well as for fish farming (edible and ornamental fishes).
“I have erected several artificial ponds in Kerala and also in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This has gained wide popularity among farmers, resorts and general public because it is cost effective,” said Vakkachan who has studied only till Class XII.
While an ordinary concrete tank would cost Rs. One per litre of water, Vakkachan’s pond would cost a mere 22 paisa per litre.
“The dimensions of the pond will depend on the geographical location of the plot and water source,” added Vakkachan.