Rainwater harvesting need of the hour

Srikakulam: Rainwater harvesting pits are need of the hour in Srikakulam as concrete jungle has been spreading in across the city for the past 17 years and ground water levels are depleting from six metres to nine metres during the summer.

Srikakulam city population has been increasing every year as it is the only urban area in the district where all education and small employment sources are available and population reached 1.75 lakh in and around the city. Apartments and buildings construction is on the rise around the city and open space is reducing gradually in the city limits which is leading to depletion of ground water level.

Rain water harvesting pits are not being constructed even in most of the government offices in the city, while the apartment and building owners are not taking over rainwater harvesting seriously. To change the mindset of the urban people, the city planning wing officials launched a campaign in coordination with the town and country planning officials to create awareness among people.

They started distribution of pamphlets door-to-door which contain suggestions on how to construct water harvesting pits.“We have identified 1,400 locations, including the government offices, apartments and buildings across the city, and issued 400 notices to owners concerned to construct the water harvesting pits”, said assistant city planner D S V Kumar.