The Hindu : New Delhi News : "Rainwater harvesting can avert water scarcity"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 17, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

"Rainwater harvesting can avert water scarcity"

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Rainwater harvesting techniques can help avert a water scarcity disaster and provide portable water to most of the world's poor, said the Board President of International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (IRCSA), Jessica C. Salas, at the "IRCSA Conference-2005" in the Capital on Tuesday.

Expressing concern over the availability of only a miniscule percentage of the total water on the planet for drinking purposes and that too was under stress, Ms. Salas said it was time we sat up and implemented schemes to replenish this precious resource. She added that simple techniques of rainwater harvesting can go a long way in replenishing of catchment systems in India as well as across the world.

Stating that the groundwater recharging through rainwater harvesting was already a priority with the Delhi Government, the State Finance, Urban Planning and PWD Minister, A.K. Walia, said instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that all new buildings taller than 100 metres should have rainwater harvesting facilities.

"Delhi needs ground water replenishment on an urgent basis as a lot of water gets drawn through tube wells. A lot needs to be done for conservation, recycling and harvesting of water," added Dr. Walia.

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