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JNU shows the way in water harvesting

By Lakshmi Balakrishnan

NEW DELHI APRIL 25. Encouraged by the success of its check-dams that have helped increase the water level in the campus area, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here has submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Water Resources for introducing rooftop water harvesting on the campus and in adjoining residential areas.

It was to check the water problems of JNU's residential area and academic block that the University first came out with the proposal of check-dams on the campus. The Central Department of Space was then roped in to locate the sites of water sources. It took another four years before the work could be completed and the dams opened in 1997.

``It was practically impossible for us to survive without water tankers before the check-dams were constructed. Now we more than manage with our tubewells ensuring that the campus does not have waterless days,'' says the brain behind the project, Soumitra Mukherjee of the School of Environmental Sciences.

The idea for rainwater harvesting, points out Prof. Mukherjee, is aimed at not only the campus and its hostels but also nearby residential areas.

``Neighbourhood areas like Vasant Kunj have been facing severe water problems and we believe that rooftop harvesting will help not only us but also area adjoining the campus, provided we are given the chance to experiment,'' he says.

According to Prof. Mukherjee, the construction of check-dams has led to an increase in the water level of the campus which now has deep tubewells that are used for water.

The campus now gets a water discharge of 18,000 litres per hour -- a marked improvement on its earlier account of 4,500 litres per hour. "We want more and more people to come forward and start rainwater harvesting to make their areas water sufficient.

The idea is to start it on an experimental basis with the JNU providing assistance to people on the technical front,'' says Prof. Mukherjee.

The School of Environmental Sciences professor points out that with land use pattern changing and the soil here losing its impermeability and water consumption increasing, check-dams and rainwater harvesting will help in improving eco-conservation in the area.

The original proposal for check-dams, in fact, included six dams. Since only three of them were built on an experimental basis, the University is now urging the Ministry to come forward and sponsor the rest of the tubewells. The new project also puts forward the demand for cleaning of check-dams every year.

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