Ankola: Residents of Gabitkeni, in Bavikeri Gram Panchayat, in Ankola taluk, came together on Sunday to clean the public well constructed nearly 15 years ago.

The local residents cleaned up the well and its surrounding in order to ensure that the water from the well could be used once again during the summer months.

Cleansing drive

Karwar based Pahare Vedike’s Nagaraj Nayak led the drive to clean the well.

Members of Jenugudu WhatsApp team, Avarsa Matrubhumi, Lions and Rotary Club, and residents of the village joined him in cleaning the well and the surrounding area.

The water of the well, located just 100 ft from the place where the Arabian Sea and Keni stream met, used to be sweet.

The construction of the well was taken up by the then MLA Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and Gram Panchayat President Appanna Kamble under the minor irrigation scheme.

Supply to 400 houses

The cost of the construction was Rs 7 lakh. Water from the well used to be supplied to as many as 400 houses with the help of water tankers.

However, just two years after being dug up, the well fell into disuse, and the area surrounding the well was taken over by shrubs and small trees.