The Hindu 04.07.2013
Metrowater ups the ante over rainwater harvesting
Rallies will be held in various parts of the city to emphasise the importance of harnessing rainwater—Photo: K. Pichumani
Chennai Metrowater has started a survey across the city
to measure the effectiveness of rainwater harvesting structures. Efforts
are also on to sensitise people towards the need to harness rainwater.
As
part of this campaign, the water agency has been conducting checks in
various parts of the city, including added areas, since July 1. A team
of officials inspected buildings to see if rainwater harvesting
structures are functional.
In Ambattur, about 2,500
buildings have been surveyed so far. The water agency plans to cover
nearly 7.40 lakh residential and commercial buildings across the city as
part of the survey.
Metrowater sources said that in
some places, the rainwater harvesting structures were found to be badly
maintained. Residents were instructed to clean the structures and refill
them with layers of filtering materials such as blue metals and
pebbles. Terraces of houses must also be cleaned to enable the
harnessing of rainwater to reap the benefits of southwest and northeast
monsoons, they suggested.
Residents of Ambattur OT said that a team of officials distributed pamphlets regarding RWH structures and their maintenance.
On
Wednesday, nearly 200 students of Government Girls Higher Secondary
School, Ambattur, took out a rally to emphasise the significance of
harnessing rainwater and its impact on the groundwater table and
quality.
They covered areas around Oragadam Main Road and Mounaswamy Madam Street and distributed pamphlets.
There are plans to hold meetings in area offices to elaborate on the means of rainwater harvesting.
Details of the survey of the existing structures would be collated after all the buildings are inspected, sources added.
