The Hindu 10.11.2010
Rain water harvesting structures prevent stagnation in city
Special Correspondent
| Mayor R. Venkatachalam says structures have helped recharge bore wells sunk by the Corporation |
Photos: K.Ananthan 
Effective solution: A rain water harvesting structure near the Income Tax Office on Race Course Road in the city eliminates stagnation. (Right) Rain water stagnates at another point on the same road in the absence of such an arrangement. - 
COIMBATORE: Either side of Race Course Road offer contrasting pictures to point out the benefit of having rain water harvesting structures along roads.
What was once a stagnation point turns bone dry now even after heavy rain because of the structure close to the Income-Tax office. A few feet away on the other side of the road is a spot where water logging happens with just half-an-hour's rain
Scheme
This is because there is no harvesting structure here, Mayor R. Venkatachalam points out. Siruthuli, a non-Governmental organisation that is installing the structures as part of a scheme funded by the Central Government, says it will provide one at this spot also.
Siruthuli is a public initiative to revive and conserve water resources. It is also into efforts to recharge aquifers in and around the city and restore River Noyyal.
Referring to the present spell of rain, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli Vanita Mohan says, “There is no stagnation wherever the harvesting structures have been provided. As the water goes into the ground, the aquifers get recharged.”
Agreeing with this, the Mayor says the harvesting structures have helped in recharging the bore wells sunk by the Corporation at many places in the city.
Siruthuli first provided 150 structures in open spaces, along roads and at underpasses under a Rs.50 lakh project. The Coimbatore Corporation initiated the project and provided Rs.40 lakh. Siruthuli met the rest of the project cost.
Project
This project was studied by the Central Ground Water Board (under the Union Ministry of Water Resources). It suggested that Siruthuli could team up with the district administration and the civic body and provide more rain water harvesting structures.
The board cleared a proposal for Rs.1 crore to provide 215 structures in the city.
Of these, 130 were to be provided at open spaces in Government-run universities, colleges, government hospital and other establishments. The rest of the structures were to be installed along roads to prevent stagnation of rain water.
District Collector P. Umanath heads the technical committee that oversees the implementation of the project.
Siruthuli says the Collector wants the entire project completed soon so that Coimbatore reaps the benefit of rain in the form of rising ground water level.
Out of the target of 215 structures, 158 have been installed so far, says Project Co-ordinator of Siruthuli K. Mylswami. “We have completed 123 structures in open spaces and 35 along roads,” he says.
Of these, 80 structures have been provided to as many Coimbatore Corporation schools. “Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra pursued this part of the project. There is no water stagnation on the grounds at these schools,” says Mr. Mylswami.
Siruthuli had identified 600 locations for providing the harvesting structures. Of these 150 were completed in co-ordination with the Corporation. Another 215 are being provided under the ongoing project. Siruthuli aims to provide the rest 235 next year.
“We have identified another 57 water stagnation points along roads, in addition to the ones being covered now,” says Mr. Mylswami.
