Vigyani-Part 12

Episode 12:

Raman started constructing the machine. He initially faced a problem regarding the finer details of the machine as he had to rely on his memory only. But, once he started the work,the details started coming to him in a flow. The villagers took turns to supply food, drinking water to him and some youths were assigned the job of giving protection to him and the shed where the machine was being assembled.

Menwhile, the news of the machine to produce water from air which means a perennial supply, reached the neighbouring villages and people of those villages started visiting Raman to ask him whether he can make a machine for their village too. As the news spread, it reached the towns and brought the newspaper reporters and the news started getting flashed all over Tamil Nadu.

Nearly after fifteen days of concentrated work at last Raman could complete the machine and he sent word for the village chief.

When the chief came, Raman said to him, 'I think the machine is ready to produce water and now you have to decide on the distribution of water. As the machine is located near the pump house you can pump the water from the machine into paddy fields through the existing canals is my suggestion'.

The village chief said, 'What you say is correct, Raman. If we do not distribute water properly, the villagers will start a fight. I will call for a meeting of all concerned and work out a suitable plan'.

A plan was worked out by the chief and in front of all the villagers, the chief pressed the button in the machine after garlanding it and breaking a cocnut in front of it and when the water started flowing out, everyone became visibly happy and some even danced.

Krishnan's man who witnessed the proceedings slowly withdrew himself from the crowd and went behind a tree and rang up Krishnan in Mumbai and broke him the news. Krishnan was silent for some time and he seemed to be discussing with some people. After some time he told the person that they have hatched a plan and to implement it they are coming to the village taking the next available flight to Chennai.

The news of Raman's machine producing water was splashed in all news channels and expert panels were set up to discuss about it. The general consensus was the appreciation of good work done by Raman. But, the panel members differed on further course of action. One member pointed out that to carry out a programme by which Raman's machine would be installed all along the Cauvery delta, enormous resources both in terms of money and man power would be required. There was a difference in opinion on who should provide the resources. Some felt that Government of Tamil Nadu should take it up while some felt that for better efficiency and speedy implementation the programme should be handed over to some big industrial house.

The news of Raman's machine reached St. George Fort, the headquarters of Tamil nadu Government and the CM called for a cabinet meeting to discuss it. In the meeting CM started praising the efforts of Raman and said the Governement should honour him suitably. But, one senior member voiced a serious concern. His point was that their party could capture a sizable chunk of votes promising to get water from Karnataka. In the next election people may not vote for their party as they would give all credit for solving the water crisis to Raman. Also, he felt that producing large number of such machines would take time and cost lot of money. So, he concluded that Government should find out some weakness in the machine and stop Raman from getting the credit. Although CM was good at heart, the opinion of the senior member appealed to him politically.

Right at that time there was a breaking news from the village where Raman's machine is producing water that the water has destroyed the paddy fields, killed some cattle which drank the water and even some persons have been hospitalised after drinking it. It was suspected that the water had acid contamination. The news also gave the information that some people at the village site of the machine are raising slogans like,' Arrest the mad scientist. Stop further damage'.

To be continued.....