A Journey to the Lands of Discovery

IT was a fine day when we headed off to the strange lands of knowledge. 6^th December 2011 the day when we had a field trip to the Civic Centre and to the Nyari Filter Plant, Rajkot. It was an academic expedition led by our history and civics teacher, Vibhuti Mam.

          We boarded our busses at around 10:45am. All the thrilled and excited hears left the school campus. The Civic Centre welcomed us with its peaceful and calm environment. It was situated right below the Rotary Midtown Library, a place where many of us visit often. But surprisingly none us had any clue about the Civic Centre! The place was surrounded by a huge square boundary, with quite a few trees here and there. The board hanging just at the entrance of the office read, “Every person visiting here, be it a commoner or a noble, are all respectable. It is we, who are dependent on them not they.” This particular line was the symbol of their vital duty and their role in our lives. We gradually entered the hall of peace. We could hear the Pitter-Patter of our own shoes. The whole area was covered with various pesters and banner spreading awareness. In the heart of it lied the sitting places if the people who came in there. This could be directly related to the court of an emperor. A little away, right to the black metallic chairs lied the official working area of the members. The Civic Centre included a Call Centre, for receiving, forwarding and registering complaints made, located at the North-East corner of it, and a tax ‘Collecting Machine’ at the mouth of the office. We were welcomed by the highly learned, qualified and experienced member of the office. We were then allowed to take our seats. Silence spread over the place once more as we settled. This hush was broken, when the personnel spoke up. We were briefed about the working and the functions of the civic centre. Some of the inquisitive minds were filled with curiosity whose thirst was quenched by the person addressing us. After the discussion we were taken to see the working of the Tax Collecting Machine in the groups of 7-8. The registration, processing and the resolution of the mock complaint was also witnessed by us. It seemed that the bright faces admired the rigorous work of their countrymen and were proud to be a part of! The technological advancements have marched forward within a last few years and would continue at a faster rate, to enlighten India. We finally left for our next and the last station for the day which was the Nyari Filter Plant, thanking them for spending their precious time for us.

The filter plant was a place near to our school. This was a place which was beyond ‘The Box”. We had visited this place just to brush up our G.K. It was a large flat ground on which the whole of the filter plant did stand. The place could be classified as an eco-friendly one as it was covered with trees all over it. The water from the Nyari dam is brought through pipelines to plant where first of all, Chlorine is added. (As a disinfectant and an odour remover) All the water coming from the dam is let into 2 huge tanks, where most of its algal as well as larger physical impurities are eliminated. Then it is sent into smaller room like structures which is the site for the removal for mud particles, gravel etc. (smaller suspending impurities) Then some advanced purification (at the chemical level) occurs which finally leaves the water absolutely safe and portable to drink. This water is much more safe and cheaper in comparison to the Bislery water! (15,000 L per Rs.800) One of our friends had even tasted the purified water. Afterwards, we saw the huge reservoirs of 20,00,000 L which stored water and then were sent to people of Rajkot via huge and Titanic pumps!

 On a larger scale it was a great enjoyable as well as a learning experience.