Toyota steps in to help parched Ramnagar Town
Bangalore, India Monday July 10, 2006 (DriveInside.com)
* To provide a permanent source of drinking water for Ramnagar Town.
* To construct 2 water storage tanks - total capacity of 1.5 million litres.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, located at Bidadi in Ramnagar Taluk in Bangalore (Rural) District, has initiated a rural drinking water project for the residents of Ramanagar Town in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka. The project will involve the construction of two water tanks of a total capacity of 1.5 million litres with the aim of overcoming the acute water shortage faced by the residents during the summer season.
Mr. Atsushi Toyoshima, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor handed over the letter of intent on the proposed construction of the water tanks to Mr. H D Kumaraswamy, Honáble Chief Minister, Karnataka in the presence of Mr. Ryoichi Sasaki, Chairman - Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
Ramnagar town, which is about 20 kms from the Toyota factory, has a population of 80,000 people. About half the population gets water supply from Cauvery river while the rest depend on water from borewells and the Arkavathy river. In the summer season, the water levels in borewells and the Arkavathy river dips drastically leaving nearly half the town parched.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Toyoshima said, "Toyota has always been responsive to the needs of the local community and the society at large. This project is aimed at helping the Government in providing drinking water to the residents of Ramanagar Town throughout the year. The construction of the water tanks will provide respite to the residents of Ramanagar town who are faced with shortage of drinking water, especially during the summer season."
The tanks would be constructed near the Town Municipality Circle and in Kothipura locality of Ramnagar town. Besides, the distribution plan of the water in the tanks has been prepared by Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board. The project would be completed in two years time.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, as a responsible corporate citizen, has undertaken many social initiatives in the area of community development. A residential school at Bidadi, reconstructed by Toyota, now houses students, mainly belonging to backward communities. TKM also reconstructed a local police station in the vicinity of the company. TKM also takes a lead role in organizing annual painting competitions among Ramnagar schools on environment themes, distributing books and bags among needy students etc.