The Hindu 10.09.2009
Free service to inspect RWH systems in Chennai
K. Lakshmi
CHENNAI: With hardly a month to go for the onset of the northeast monsoon, a check of the rainwater harvesting structures is imperative to reap benefit of the showers.
Rainwater experts in the city said Chennai’s rainfall of 128.9 mm received between June 1 and August 26 saw a deficit by 56 per cent. In its attempt to create awareness of RWH maintenance, the Rain Centre at Mandavelipakkam is offering free service to inspect the system.
The centre’s director Sekhar Raghavan said the service is being provided for the first time as part of its 7th anniversary celebrations. A team of trained resource persons would visit places and provide a cost estimate to clean and repair of the structures located in any part of the city.
Earlier, the centre’s resource persons would visit households to implement RWH system. It would take about Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 according to the size of the structures, he said.
“It is easier to clean recharge wells than the recharge pits that are narrow. An efficient RWH structure would harness almost 100 per cent of the rainfall even if it is only a few millimetres,” Mr. Raghavan said. Listing out the benefits of RWH, he said groundwater table in many areas increased by six metre during 2006. Several educational institutions that harnessed rainwater have been able to avoid flooding in their premises during heavy showers by installing such structures. Interested residents could contact the centre at 24616134 or 24918415.
