New drinking water facilities in Kerala hospitals

A novel initiative to equip Government Hospitals in Kerala with clean drinking water facilities meeting potable standards has been launched in the state.

Launching the scheme at a function here on Sunday, Union minister of state for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, K V Thomas handed over the first two units to the General Hospital in the presence of Ernakulam MLA Hibi Eden and District Collector, Sheik Pareeth.

The pilot project to install seven clean drinking water solutions at 6 selected locations of the Government Taluk Hospitals in Ernakulam district is implemented by Kochi-based NGO Kite Life Foundation with the financial support of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Limited.

The units for the project were specially designed and supplied by Eureka Forbes Limited. As part of the pilot project, two units are being installed at the Government General Hospital, Ernakulam, one unit each at Women & Child Hospital, Mattanchery, Taluk Hospital, Fort Cochin, Maharajas Hospital, Karuvalippadi, Government Taluk Hospital, Aluva and Government Taluk Hospital, North Paravur.

In the next phase, Kite Life Foundation will commission clean drinking water units in Government Hospitals in Thiruvananthapurm and Kozhikode with the support of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, a press release here said.

Rajesh Nair, President, Kite Life Foundation said the project would be taken across the state in the next one year.

Ajai Kumar, General Sales Manager for Kerala, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd said, the company seeks to contribute to the community by way of implementing innovative projects in access to water, water conservation and management across the country. The Clean Drinking Water Initiative in Government Hospitals of Kerala is the latest in these efforts.

Kite Life Foundation (KLF) is an NGO based at Kochi formed by a group of like minded people to integrate the purpose of development of Kite Culture, along with social service, in the minds of people of Kerala.

For water conservation, the Coca Cola Company has already installed 500 RWH projects across the country in partnership with local NGOs, State Ground Water Departments, Resident Welfare Associations, Market Associations, Schools and Colleges.