The Nagpur Municipal Corporation`s MAK Azad High School and Jr College in Buddha Nagar, Asinagar zone, is the first civic-run educational institute in the region to have installed rainwater harvesting in its new building, thus setting an example for others.
Depletion of groundwater level in the city remains a cause for worry and has led to scarcity of water. Rainwater harvesting is not much expensive, effective and helpful in augmenting the groundwater level, if implemented properly. Asinagar zone suffers the most every summer with NMC struggling to provide water using tankers. The situation hasn`t changed much over the years and residents in the area continue to complain about irregular water supply.
The NMC school authorities are thus being lauded for their efforts. First proposed by corporator and education committee head Pushpa Ghode, the idea appealed to the school principal Farooque Ahmed Khan who earmarked Rs 20,000 from the school`s contingency funds for the project. "It took the contractor less than 20 days to complete the project," he said.
Ghode was supported by corporator Rajinder Singh Babra. She is now urging other schools to take cue and set up similar systems to save water. "By implementing this system, we wish to send across a strong message to students stressing on the need for water conservation," said Khan.
Although the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has made it mandatory for new constructions above 250 sq mtr or 2500 sq ft to install water harvesting mechanisms, it is not being implemented in true spirit. During the hearing of a PIL filed by Ajay Tiwari in February this year, Maharashtra government had informed the High Court that it will issue a notification within four weeks making it mandatory for the builders to have rain water harvesting system in all new buildings.
A source from town planning department of NMC informed, "We do not clear building plans without rain water harvesting now." In case of non-compliance, the NMC can levy a fine of up to Rs 1,000 per annum per 100 square metre of built-up area.
Ghode said, "Most of the NMC schools have large campuses with ample open space, which could be utilized for such a water storage system. This will not only solve the problem of water shortage in schools but also create awareness."
The NMC hadn`t made a fixed budgetary allowance but school authorities are free to use the contingency funds for such purpose. "Before monsoon, we will clean the well too and start accumulating the runoff water in it. Once the well is filled, we can consider using the water for washing or cleaning," said Khan.
The ironic part is that while school authorities are working towards water conservation, TOI found a number of trees cut in the school premises.
Oops! School got it wrong
WELL NOT CLEANED: All the accumulated water will be directed through pipes to an underground filter chamber of four feet. The chamber is filled with layers of charcoal, fine sand. The filtered water will then be allowed to accumulate in a dirty well behind the school building. If the well is not cleaned, the entire exercise will be futile.
CHOP, CHOP: While rain water harvesting is a good sign, the school authorities have not got it right by chopping a few full-grown trees which were the along the boundary wall. The school is constructing an extension building.
Depletion of groundwater level in the city remains a cause for worry and has led to scarcity of water. Rainwater harvesting is not much expensive, effective and helpful in augmenting the groundwater level, if implemented properly. Asinagar zone suffers the most every summer with NMC struggling to provide water using tankers. The situation hasn`t changed much over the years and residents in the area continue to complain about irregular water supply.
The NMC school authorities are thus being lauded for their efforts. First proposed by corporator and education committee head Pushpa Ghode, the idea appealed to the school principal Farooque Ahmed Khan who earmarked Rs 20,000 from the school`s contingency funds for the project. "It took the contractor less than 20 days to complete the project," he said.
Ghode was supported by corporator Rajinder Singh Babra. She is now urging other schools to take cue and set up similar systems to save water. "By implementing this system, we wish to send across a strong message to students stressing on the need for water conservation," said Khan.
Although the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has made it mandatory for new constructions above 250 sq mtr or 2500 sq ft to install water harvesting mechanisms, it is not being implemented in true spirit. During the hearing of a PIL filed by Ajay Tiwari in February this year, Maharashtra government had informed the High Court that it will issue a notification within four weeks making it mandatory for the builders to have rain water harvesting system in all new buildings.
A source from town planning department of NMC informed, "We do not clear building plans without rain water harvesting now." In case of non-compliance, the NMC can levy a fine of up to Rs 1,000 per annum per 100 square metre of built-up area.
Ghode said, "Most of the NMC schools have large campuses with ample open space, which could be utilized for such a water storage system. This will not only solve the problem of water shortage in schools but also create awareness."
The NMC hadn`t made a fixed budgetary allowance but school authorities are free to use the contingency funds for such purpose. "Before monsoon, we will clean the well too and start accumulating the runoff water in it. Once the well is filled, we can consider using the water for washing or cleaning," said Khan.
The ironic part is that while school authorities are working towards water conservation, TOI found a number of trees cut in the school premises.
Oops! School got it wrong
WELL NOT CLEANED: All the accumulated water will be directed through pipes to an underground filter chamber of four feet. The chamber is filled with layers of charcoal, fine sand. The filtered water will then be allowed to accumulate in a dirty well behind the school building. If the well is not cleaned, the entire exercise will be futile.
CHOP, CHOP: While rain water harvesting is a good sign, the school authorities have not got it right by chopping a few full-grown trees which were the along the boundary wall. The school is constructing an extension building.
0 comments:
Post a Comment