The Hindu : Success story of water harvesting

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 10, 2002

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Success story of water harvesting

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI OCT. 9. The Delhi Government's efforts to arrest the falling ground water level through rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to avert water famine in future have started showing results. The Government have been able to save around 445 million gallons in the rural and urban areas through a network of ponds and lakes.

The positive outcome, despite Delhi not receiving its quota of rain, has been possible through sustained efforts of the Development Department and Irrigation and Flood Control Departments. This achievement of recharging of ground water levels, which have fallen to 30 meters below ground in South and South-West Delhi, has been commended by the Central Water Commission.

Addressing a press conference to highlight the good work done by the two Departments, the Delhi Development Minister, Haroon Yusuf, said rain water harvesting and artificial recharge of ground water was a simple, economical and eco-friendly way of conservation with the direct involvement of the ground water use which is the only promising solution for solving the scarcity of Delhi. Mr. Yusuf also commended the role played by the villagers, Resident Welfare Associations and other individuals in furthering the cause of rainwater harvesting.

He said due to the consistent efforts of the two Departments, it was possible to impound 155 million gallons in the Najafgarh Drain. This was done by closing the gates of Kakrola Regulators. The impounded water was being diverted into Mundela Drain for a stretch of 12.5 km. The Delhi Government has developed 23 check dams in Asola Wild Life Sanctuary for harvesting the rainwater from hilly streams in Mehrauli Block. These dams have proved very effective in inducing ground water recharge and creation of water bodies for sustenance of wild life in the sanctuary.

The Minister said around 70 ponds and johars had been developed in rural villages to ensure better rain harvesting and water percolation to the ground water aquifers. As a result, about 170 million gallons storage capacity has been created. It is proposed to develop and deepen another 40 ponds before the monsoon next year as also all the remaining ponds. He said the abandoned course of Bawana Escape near Hiranki village was developed into a water body with a surface area of 37,000 sq meters to impound the Yamuna water during floods.

This year about 30 million gallons of floodwater was diverted into this body. In addition, about 90 million gallons was diverted to the Bhalaswa Lake. It is proposed to repeat this process every year to fill up the lake and the water body that is to be extended further by about 58,000 sq meters before the next monsoon. For recharge of ground water, 30 artificial recharge trenches have been provided in the bed of Mungeshpur Drain in North-West Delhi.

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Success story of water harvesting