Prayagraj div to get rainwater harvesting in govt buildings
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Prayagraj: The groundwater department has initiated a new survey to identify govt buildings in four districts of the Prayagraj division — Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, and Kaushambi — for installing rainwater harvesting systems.
The state govt aims to cover approximately 15,500 square meters of area with rainwater harvesting systems in the financial year 2025-26. Additionally, plans are being made to install rainwater harvesting systems on 650 square meters each in Chaka and Sahson blocks under the Atal Bhoojal Yojna.
Archana Singh, hydrologist of the hroundwater department, told TOI that they have launched a survey to identify govt buildings in all four districts of the mandal, and the work would be completed within two months.
Once the survey is completed in terms of the number of govt buildings and the cost of the rainwater harvesting system, the proposal would be sent to state authorities for the sanctioning of the amount, she added.
She acknowledged that the increasing demand and unchecked exploitation have affected groundwater levels. Efforts are being made to recharge groundwater in both urban and rural areas. In rural areas, filling ponds is an effective way to conserve rainwater, while rooftop rainwater harvesting systems are a suitable option for urban areas.
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Officials, meanwhile, cautioned that there is an urgent need to check the over-exploitation of groundwater.
Soaring temperatures, rising population, and the ever-expanding city limits are prime factors that have been taking a toll on groundwater levels. This resulted in a sharp decline in the level of groundwater across the four districts in the past few years.
Officials, however, advocated that rooftop rainwater harvesting systems are the only solution in urban pockets to check the menace. Singh claimed that recharge pits, recharge trenches, recharge wells, dry wells, and ponds to collect rainwater are the only solutions to deal with the crisis; otherwise, the situation may become difficult in the coming days.
Various departments are now putting more focus on water conservation, claiming that it is an individual's accountability to restore water resources, and stress is also being made to spread awareness in the same regard.
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