A simple initiative to recharge the open wells using rainwater harvesting techniques seems to be yielding dividends in enhancing ground water levels in several parts of Thrissur district. About 8,110 wells of households and institutions have been recharged under the project, with the support of the government, ever since it was launched in 2008. But another nearly 10,000 private wells have also been recharged by their owners using the same methodology, but without government aid. The success of the method in Thrissur has already inspired officials in Palakkad and Malappuram to launch similar schemes in their areas. Pathanamthitta district authorities are also in talks with the officials of Thrissur District Rainwater Harvesting Mission (DRHM) to explore the possibilities of launching similar schemes there. “The method adopted is to recharge the wells by feeding water collected through rainwater harvesting to the open wells directly or by digging pits around it,” Jos Raphel from the DRHM told TOI. As per the evaluation report prepared by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode early this year the yield has been mainly in the midland and coastal areas, while the achievement has been not so impressive in hilly region. Emphasizing the importance of the project, V P Dinesan of the CWRDM said, “in the conventional rainwater harvesting only a particular quantity of water is collected in a tank to be used during the summer season. Here the focus is on recharging the groundwater ” The project cost per unit is only around Rs 5,000, and the DRHM officials have evolved an ingenious method to mobilize funds by linking the project with the employment guarantee scheme MNREGA. Arghyam, a Banglore based Trust has been financial supporting the project management unit.