Delhi launches rainwater harvesting drive across 75 CM Shri schools

New Delhi: A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Delhi Secretariat on Friday under the 'Catch the Rain' initiative, paving the way for a major rainwater harvesting project in government schools across the Capital. The agreement was signed between Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), the Directorate of Education and Ehsaas NGO in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

As part of the initiative, rainwater harvesting systems will be developed in 75 CM Shri Schools under IGL's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The project will include auditing and restoring existing rainwater harvesting infrastructure on school campuses, installing new rooftop harvesting systems where required, and conducting water conservation and environmental awareness programmes for students and teachers.

Water Conservation is the foundation of a secure future: Chief Minister

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said water conservation is not merely an environmental necessity but the foundation of a secure future for coming generations. She said the Delhi Government is promoting education and environmental conservation together and that this initiative will be an important step towards promoting sustainable water management in government schools.

Model to be expanded to all government schools in Delhi

The Chief Minister said the initiative will not remain limited to just 75 schools. She expressed hope that the model would eventually be expanded to nearly 800 Delhi Government schools, helping promote rainwater harvesting and groundwater conservation on a much larger scale across the capital.

She said the government’s objective is to install rainwater harvesting systems in all government schools in Delhi and make them fully functional. Calling the project an excellent example of effective partnership between the government, industry and social organisations, she said it would not only strengthen groundwater conservation but also help instil a sense of responsibility and sensitivity towards water resources among students.

Technical framework and implementation of the project

Under the project, technical audits of the existing rainwater harvesting systems will be carried out in the selected 75 CM Shri Schools. The project also includes cleaning and restoration of old water harvesting structures, recharge pits and filtration systems. New rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, including pipelines, filters, tanks and borewells, will be installed on school campuses. Maintenance and technical support will also be provided for one year. In addition, one modern and cost-effective rooftop rainwater harvesting unit will be constructed in each school.

The project will be implemented by Ehsaas NGO. The organisation will be responsible for ensuring safety standards, construction quality and the successful implementation and operation of the project. The Directorate of Education will provide the necessary permissions and administrative support at school campuses and will take responsibility for maintaining the systems after the project is completed. IGL will provide financial support for the entire project.

Tags : Delhi government, rainwater harvesting, CM Shri schools, Rekha Gupta, Indraprastha Gas Limited