Mukkam: A man constructed a swimming pool for the children of the village at a cost of Rs 40 lakh. Chennamangallur native Nazirudheen, IT expert in Pune, build the pond on 25-cent plot in the name of his mother. The swimming equipment and guideline from swimming experts also will be provided for the children free.

The kids are allowed to enter the pond during the hours between 6.30 - 8.30 in the morning and 4.30 - 6 in the evening due to security reasons. About hundred people including adults and children arrive at the pool every day.

All four sides of the pond are finished with granite. A lawn also has been maintained around the pond to prevent soil erosion. In order to ensure maximum space, the granite walls of the ponds are built in a slanting shape. Also laterite steps are built to step into the water.

There was a plan to make a ground in the paddy field which was levelled 25 years ago. However, the idea was dropped as the ground can never be reversed into a field in future. Later, the owner of the land put the place for sale.

Nazirudheen and his brothers bought a plot here in the name of their mother. He suggested that they can construct a pond in the place for the children of the village. Both his friends and family supported his idea.

His friend and environmental activist Hareesh Vasudevan clarified the legal aspects of the project. Another friend Faizal, assistant engineer in irrigation department, sketched the plan. Also the officials of Mukkam municipality and Krishi Bhavan supported them.

Water was spotted when 0.75 metre was dug using an excavator. Though the construction was almost finished before the monsoon last year, slush was dumped in the pond during the flood havoc. They removed the slush and completed the works and opened the pond for children on Thursday.

The locals said that the wells in the area remained full even during summer after the pond was made. Naziruddheen has decided to start paddy farming in one-acre land close to the pond. He said that the intense pollution of water resources and the increase in the number of children who cannot swim led to the concept of building the pond.