In these times of acute water shortage in Bangalore, environmentalists and activists are finding solutions to conserving water. Nature lover Vinod Lal Heera Eshwer , for example, wants to make people aware that saving rain water is really a simple procedure. But Vinod is not one to launch into intellectual discussions, he believes in action. In a first-of-its kind endeavour Vinod, with support from his company McCann, has set up a permanent installation at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, which incidentally is a rain water harvested campus.
“Rain water harvesting is a daunting and complicated term, though in reality, it’s quite simple. All you have to do is catch the rain and collect it where it falls! Essentially, the installation makes the invisible process of collecting water in sumps and buildings, visible,” says Vinod, who has won awards for his public service ads and is the author of two children’s books, Let’s Plant Trees and Let’sCatch The Rain published by Tulika.
Indeed, this is exactly what the installation shows. Located at the centre of the children’s park, the installation features a large-sized funnel, placed on top of a transparent water collecting tank, in which rain water is collected. Children, in particular, are attracted to the installation. And they seemed to have caught onto the idea very well.
P. Sabari, a 14-year-old student, points to the installation and says: “Rain falls into the funnel and the water gets collected in the tank,” when asked what the installation means to him. His friends shake their head in agreement and point to the tank, decorated with plants and plastic fish, saying: “It also sustains life.”
As to why Vinod chose to set up the installation at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, he says: “We were on the lookout for a place where children could see it. All doors opened when it came to the planetarium.”
KK Kutty, administrative officer at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, says the installation acts as a reminder for the need to save rain water. “Collecting rain water is an age-old practice, but over the years we have neglected this. This installation is a good way to spread awareness about saving rain water and encourage our children to do the same.”
