‘Rainwater conservation ensures security for future’

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Ensuring water security for future generations requires critical focus on rainwater conservation, said Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) Managing Director Ashok Reddy. On Thursday, he participated in a water conservation awareness program held at KBH B Park in the Kukatpally Zone and inaugurated newly constructed recharge pits. On this occasion, he interacted with local residents and representatives of colony welfare associations and created awareness on rainwater conservation, recharging groundwater and protection of water resources.

He appreciated the residents of Kukatpally Housing Board Colony for voluntarily coming forward to construct and inaugurate the recharge pit. He noted that water conservation programs will gain momentum only through people’s participation. He also informed that under the Jala Mandali, special measures are being taken to convert unused borewells into injection wells in the Kukatpally Circle.

As part of this, he virtually inaugurated 40 converted injection wells. The Managing Director revealed that 24,000 recharge pits have already been constructed this year under the Jala Mandali and that work is progressing to achieve the target of 30,000 pits across the city. He further disclosed that 700 non-functional borewells have been identified in the city limits and so far, 350 defunct borewells have been converted into injection wells, and the remaining ones will be completed soon, he informed. The MD advised that every house built on plots larger than 200 square yards should have recharge pits.

He said that setting up recharge pits in every residential complex could help recharge 5 to 10 TMC of rainwater into the ground in the city. He added that by harvesting rainwater and directing it into the ground, groundwater levels can be increased and future water needs can be secured. Later, local residents took a pledge that they would remain committed to water conservation, construction of recharge pits, and prevention of water wastage, and would extend full cooperation for rainwater harvesting in every household.