Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jun 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the efforts of 77-year-old Balakrishna Ganesh Ayya from Goa's Canacona region for addressing a severe water scarcity problem in his village through determination and personal initiative.

Ayya, a retired art teacher from Loliem village in Canacona, earned recognition in the Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat programme for digging a well in an area where experts had reportedly declared groundwater inaccessible.

The area around his residence at Mahi-Talap is known for acute water scarcity and rocky terrain. According to local accounts, engineers and water experts had earlier concluded that finding water there was nearly impossible due to the challenging geological conditions, which include layers of rock, clay and hard black stone.

Despite scepticism from villagers and experts, Ayya decided to undertake the task himself using his pension savings. While many residents struggled with severe water shortages during summer, he remained convinced that water could be found beneath the rocky ground.

Undeterred by criticism and warnings that he was wasting money, Ayya continued digging and eventually reached a depth of 40 feet. His efforts were rewarded when a natural water source emerged from the hard rock formation.

Rather than restricting the water supply to his own household, Ayya installed a pump and, at his own expense, laid a network of pipelines to distribute water across the locality.

Today, more than 25 poor and needy families in the Maddi Talap area receive free and clean drinking water from the well.

His commitment to community service and perseverance in overcoming a seemingly impossible challenge has earned widespread appreciation. The recognition by Prime Minister Modi in Mann Ki Baat has brought national attention to Ayya's work, making his efforts a source of pride for Goa and an inspiring example of grassroots problem-solving.