Kannur: The COVID-19 lockdown has seen many people exploring their abilities and talents, and working on something they haven’t done before - be it baking or craftwork - as they continue to remain at home.
Ask Bhaskaran and his family in Periyachur in Mattannur how they spend time during the lockdown. They point at the hand-dug well in the courtyard of their house, which was dug up all by themselves. Bhaskaran, his sister Sreeja and her children were all involved in digging up the well.
To their amusement at about 18.88 feet depth, freshwater spring emerged in their well. The family is overjoyed at their achievement which has always been a dream for them. The water woes that used to trouble them every summer is not going to affect this family anymore.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Bhaskaran said that his family was dependent on other wells in his neighbourhood for drinking water purposes and this initiative has ensured supply of freshwater in the simmering Kerala summer.
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Sreeja’s son Sreerag struck on the idea of digging up a well by themselves as they all were ‘locked up’ in the house anyway, owing to the lockdown. The whole family were in for it and the works began almost instantly. The site for the well in the courtyard was decided and they started digging up the well. Bhaskaran’s close friend Vineesh also joined them.
In eleven days of hard work by the whole family, the well went down to 18.88 feet in depth. At this point, freshwater spring emerged in their well to the delight of the family.
The family is now preparing to construct a safety wall around their hand-dug well.
