Reincarnating Raipur
Bhilai, a city in the Chhattisgarh state of India, has taken a significant step towards sustainable water management by installing rainwater harvesting systems in all government buildings and 15,000 households. The Bhilai Corporation, Risali Corporation, and Bhilai Charoda Corporation are leading a campaign to promote the installation of rainwater harvesting systems and to increase the groundwater level in the region.
Over the past decade, the number of rainwater harvesting systems in the area has increased, and awareness about the importance of such systems has also risen. Private buildings and houses are now also being encouraged to install these systems. Bhilai Corporation claims that these systems have been installed in about 15,000 houses with an area of 1500 square feet or more.
The government is running a campaign to promote rainwater harvesting, and urban bodies in the region are following guidelines issued by the district administration. Bhilai Corporation began a public awareness campaign in 2020 to encourage people to adopt rainwater harvesting under the water conservation campaign. Anganwadi workers and helpers were engaged to motivate people to save every drop of water by going door-to-door, and the corporation plans to start this campaign again in May.
The corporation is also focusing on reducing water wastage from household activities such as washing vegetables and clothes. The plan is to send the kitchen and bathroom water to the ground through soak pits instead of going into the drain, which will save a significant amount of water. This scheme was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the corporation administration is reviewing it again.
Rainwater harvesting will be the biggest campaign of Bhilai Corporation during the upcoming monsoon season. The rainwater harvesting systems installed in all government buildings are under further review to ensure their effectiveness. The success of these efforts will not only help in sustainable water management but also encourage other cities to follow suit and promote sustainable living practices.
