JOIN USDeclaring the current financial year as ‘Water Year’, the BBMP said that utmost attention would be given to rainwater harvesting (RWH). As a first step, the Palike has drawn out an action plan to store and use every drop of rainwater that falls at the sprawling 10-acre premises of its head office.
Elaborating on the action plan, Palike Commissioner Siddaiah said an action plan of Rs 45 lakh was formulated to tap rainwater effectively at the premises of the head office.
Though the RWH facility has been installed at one building in the head office, the rainwater remains unutilised in other parts of the building. Thus, according to the action plan, the 10-acre premises of the Palike head office would be converted into a RWH zone in the next three months. Also, a small pond in the Palike would be used for recharging the groundwater through RWH.
In addition to the main building, the Palike has decided to set up RWH facility at all its other buildings in the City.
"We shall install RWH facility in all our playgrounds, parks, public places and at all Palike buildings. We also envision to install the mechanism at Cubbon Park, Lalbagh, Coles Park, Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley,” said Siddaiah.
The Palike has also planned to dig percolation pits in shoulder drains that connect to storm water drains. There are as many as five lakh shoulder drains in the City which will
be used to recharge the groundwater.
Also percolation pits will be dug in tree parks. The pits will remain open in the rainy season, while it will be closed during the rest of the year. This will enable trees to get moisture throughout the year.