Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development K.T. Rama Rao has announced that a rainwater harvesting park will be established in the city as an example for the best policy initiative.
During a convergence meeting with GHMC, water board, TSIIC, HMDA and CDMA officials here on Monday, Mr. Rama Rao said awareness will be raised among the public about the necessity of rainwater harvesting structures, through the park.
The park will be designed to use only rainwater for all kinds of needs, without any water connection at all, he said, and instructed the officials of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials to set up such a park.
Talking about the ‘Jalam-Jeevam’ programme taken up by the State government for water conservation, Mr. Rama Rao said it was devised so as to preclude Latur-like conditions in the city, where water is brought through special trains.
Raising groundwater level
While the State government is bringing in Krishna and Godavari river water for quenching the thirst of the city, rainwater conservation is essential to raise the groundwater levels in the city.
He directed officials to make rainwater harvesting structures mandatory on the premises of banks across the State, all the public sector units, offices and educational institutions, and issue necessary orders.
Awareness programmes about percolation pits should be broadcast through T-SAT and Nipuna channels, and celebrities should be partnered for the ‘Jalam-Jeevam’ programme.
MD, HMWSSB, M. Dana Kishore, informed that 821 rainwater harvesting structures have been completed and geo-tagged out of the targeted 1000 as fixed by the State government.
Large-scale awareness campaigns are being taken up and bank loans are being tied up for those who are ready to build the structures, he said.
GHMC Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy, HMDA Commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu, Hyderabad Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy, Director, Municipal Administration, T.K. Sridevi, and other officials participated in the meeting where the minister released the posters for ‘Jalam-Jeevam’.
