Often, simple measures taken in time avert a big crisis. This is certainly true of water management. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) pits as a tool to recharge groundwater table may sound too simplistic a solution. However, this summer, when the spectre of a water crisis looms over Chennai, RWH pits are back where they deserve to be. Residents are displaying a noticeable interest in them. Vidiyal, an environmental organisation based in Chromepet, has seized the opportunity by starting a campaign in Pallavaram, Chromepet, Hasthinapuram and Keezhkattalai that would introduce residents to the nuts and bots of constructing rainwater harvesting pits. M. Sreedhar, founder of Vidiyal, says RWH pits have to be constructed in such a manner that they are integral to the stormwater drain network. Just one-square-foot is enough to construct a RWH pit and it will cost somewhere between Rs. 3,500 and 4,000.
Besides constructing the traditional rainwater harvesting system, as mandated by Pallavapuram Municipality, this resident of Nallappa Street in Chromepet has constructed a RWH pit abutting the compound wall of his residence. Today, water is available at a depth of 80 feet in the bore-well at his home, thanks to the importance he has always given to rainwater harvesting. In contrast, residents of neighbouring Chitlapakkam, which is located close to two lakes, are sinking borewells up to 400 feet to find water. For details, contact M. Sreedhar at 9444015576.
