Kuttanad: To mark the 66th birthday of Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal on Thursday, the ViswaSanthi Foundation—a non-profit organisation led by the actor—has delivered a vital lifeline to the water-scarce region of Kuttanad.

As part of the foundation’s ongoing ‘Shanthitheertham’ initiative, a brand-new, solar-powered automated Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification plant was officially commissioned in Vezhapra. The project aims to provide an immediate and sustainable solution to the acute shortage of clean drinking water plaguing the locality.

Vital clean water supply for hundreds of families

The newly inaugurated facility is set to provide clean, safe drinking water entirely free of charge to around 1,200 residents across 300 families in Vezhapra.

The plant was officially opened by Major Ravi, the Managing Director of the ViswaSanthi Foundation. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Major Ravi highlighted the actor's enduring commitment to humanitarian causes. The event was also attended by foundation director Sajeev Soman and Sharath Nair, the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Tata Elxsi, which collaborated on the initiative.

A long-term commitment to the region

Although unable to attend the ceremony in person due to prior commitments, Mohanlal sent a special video message to the residents of Vezhapra, expressing his gratitude for their support.

This is not the foundation’s first venture into the region. Kuttanad has long battled drinking water scarcity due to high salinity and water pollution. The ViswaSanthi Foundation has previously established three water purification plants across various parts of the region. Notably, in 2023, the charity installed a massive plant in Edathua capable of generating 2,000 litres of clean drinking water per hour, which currently serves over 500 local families.

The introduction of the new solar-powered automated system in Vezhapra marks another major step forward in the foundation's mission to ensure eco-friendly, sustainable access to clean water for vulnerable communities in the state.