Water harvesting system the best bet (Hindistan Times 15 June 2012)

Delhi can avert water crisis, but only if the government and civic bodies do their bit to help resident welfare associations (RWA) in setting up water harvesting systems.

"Many borewells and tubewells have dried up over the years. So, we created pits and diverted rainwater drains. This way, the waterstarved Capital can get what it needs," said Rajiv Kakaria of the GK-I E-block RWA, where a water harvesting system was set up a few years ago. Since then, he says, the water level has risen by nearly 3 metres.

Most colonies, where such a water harvesting system was put in place, have reported a rise in the water table. "In Mandakini, where the system has set up in 2007, the water table goes up by 2.5 metres every year," said Jyoti Sharma of FORCE NGO.

But the civic bodies, which have allocated funds for creating rainwater harvesting pits, have done little in this regard. "Zonal offices don't know how to prepare a plan for water harvesting system in wards," said a senior official of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).

In west Delhi's Subhash Nagar, where the system was established by the councillor, residents say tubewells now yield more water. "There's no water shortage in our area. Tube wells which didn't yield water a year ago are now functioning well," said Gopal Sadana, a resident of Subhash Nagar.

The RWAs, however, say they need the support of the government and civic bodies to construct such systems in their areas. "The cost of these systems is high. The RWAs can't do this alone," added Kakaria.

The erstwhile MCD had also proposed to treat sewage water and use it to water parks. But nothing on ground was done. "We would have asked for DJB’s permission but the proposal didn't see the light of the day," the officer added.