Hyderabad: Waking up to depleting groundwater table, HMWSSB to construct 16,000 rainwater harvesting pits
The Water Board aims to implement the ‘One Harvesting Pit for Every Home’ programme across areas within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits.
By Newsmeter Network
Representational Image
Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has drawn up an action plan to construct 16,000 rainwater harvesting pits within the next 90 days.
The move is aimed at improving the city’s groundwater table.
This initiative is being taken up following the instructions of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Focus on increasing groundwater levels
The Water Board aims to implement the ‘One Harvesting Pit for Every Home’ programme across areas within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits.
The plan was discussed during a Zoom meeting chaired by HMWSSB managing director Ashok Reddy and executive director Mayank Mittal, attended by officials and representatives from NGOs.
Directives to identify suitable locations
During the meeting, the MD directed officials and NGOs to identify suitable locations for constructing rainwater harvesting pits within a week.
Special emphasis will be laid on spreading awareness among residents of apartments, colonies, and gated communities about the importance of groundwater recharge.
Conversion of unused borewells
The Water Board is also preparing proposals to convert unused borewells into injection borewells to further enhance groundwater levels. This measure is expected to make a significant contribution, especially during summers when water scarcity forces additional tanker supplies.
IT integration for monitoring
Executive Director Mayank Mittal directed the IT wing to develop a dedicated mobile application for geotagging and uploading before-and-after photos of each pit constructed. A special dashboard is also being designed to monitor the daily progress of the initiative, he added.
