The Hindu 22.03.2011
BWSSB’s theme park has a message on rainwater harvesting
Only 24,000 of the 56,000 targeted households have adopted RWH
Unique: A view of the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Centre
theme park which was inaugurated in Bangalore on Monday. — Photo: K.
Murali Kumar
To popularise rainwater harvesting and also train citizens on how to go
about it, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s (BWSSB) Sir M.
Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme park was inaugurated on Monday.
Home Minister R. Ashok, who inaugurated the park, warned
people if they did not conserve water now, the drinking water shortage
might reach never-before heights in the days to come.
‘Use judiciously’
“Every drop is precious considering that Cauvery water
is being pumped from a distance of 120 km from Shivanasamudra to the
city. Water has to be used judiciously,” he said.
Although the State Government has made rainwater
harvesting mandatory, only 24,000 of the 56,000 targeted households in
the city have adopted it so far.
The theme park has 27 demonstrations on rainwater
harvesting, numerous models that explain the usage and importance of
water in all its forms with a special focus on water conservation.
Impressed by the park, Mr. Ashok suggested that BWSSB should set up
another such park in Banashankari. He would get five acres of land
allotted there (as Banashankari is represented by him).
First in country
Developed on a two-acre land in Jayanagar 5
{+t}
{+h} Block at a cost of Rs. 3 crore, the theme park is the first of its
kind in the country, BWSSB Chairperson P.B. Ramamurthy said.
Although designed to propagate rainwater harvesting and
also create more awareness about water conservation, the park also
showcases the history, origin and growth of BWSSB. Models that show how
Cauvery water reaches our homes through three pumping stations and how
the city’s waste water is treated at the BWSSB”S sewerage treatment
plants are also on display.
The guests watched a documentary on water conservation
at the information centre in the park named “Tuntaru” (the first showers
of rain). A street play by theatre personality A.S. Murthy was staged
on the occasion.
Mayor S K Nataraj, BJP National General Secretary Ananth
Kumar and Jayanagar MLA B N Vijaykumar also spoke. Top BWSSB officials
were present.
