Bangalore to get rainwater harvesting theme park

Bangalore to get rainwater harvesting theme park


What used to be a personal affair will soon be a city affair
Raghavendra R
First Published : 10 Dec 2008 04:42:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 10 Dec 2008 10:42:35 AM IST

BANGALORE
: In a bid to generate awareness on the concept of rainwater harvesting, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will shortly be setting up a rainwater harvesting theme park at Jayanagar V Block of the city.

The park will come up on a BWSSB land of 1.25 acres. It is to be noted that the BWSSB has made rainwater harvesting mandatory for any new buildings built on sites measuring 30x40 feet and above, in order to sanction new water connections.

Rs 10 cr earmarked

BWSSB and IT Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu is a firm proponent of this particular rule. In its Budget, the state government has earmarked Rs 10 crore for rainwater harvesting.

“The tender for the theme park has been finalised for its construction and the work will be started in a week’s time.

Under phase I of the project, around Rs 30 lakh would be spent on setting up the park,” official sources in BWSSB disclosed.

The Park will house an information centre on rainwater harvesting and also display live demonstration models, literature and equipment required to set up a rainwater harvesting unit.

Methods of rainwater harvesting like recharging of borewells and groundwater sources near the house and collection of rainwater for reuse will be demonstrated live at the park.

Labelling the park the “need of the hour,” an officials source said: “In the near future, surface water will become scarce. ” “As there are no other alternative sources, groundwater recharging through rainwater harvesting gains importance”

In BWSSB offices

This apart, the BWSSB offices across the city will soon have rainwater harvesting facilities to set an example. “A proposal for installing a rainwater harvesting unit at Cauvery Bhavan has already been approved and is in the tender process. With this project, we can save about nine lakh litres of water per year,” a source said.