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Water harvesting need of the hour, say experts

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Unless rainwater is harvested, groundwater reserve would become scarce in coming years, opined experts at a seminar on drinking water and sanitation problems organised by the Rotary Club of Berhampur on Sunday.

Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu inaugurated the seminar, which was attended by senior citizens and experts in the field of drinking water supply and sanitation like Joe Madiath of Gramvikas.

A major point of discussion was that, with rapid urbanisation the scope for rainwater percolating into the ground reduced drastically.

There was little open space amidst the concrete jungle and rainwater usually flowed out of the city through drains without seeping into the ground. Experts suggested that the Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) make it mandatory for all houses to have water-harvesting structures, which would let rainwater percolate into the ground through a special pit near their houses. This would recharge the depleting groundwater level.

The BDA should also make it mandatory to include plans of rainwater harvesting system in every house plan that it approved.

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