IAS officer Himanshu Nagpal, the chief improvement officer in Varanasi, initiated a complete groundwater rejuvenation challenge, notably growing the water desk, bettering water availability and lowering waterborne illnesses. Right here’s how he achieved it.
On the workplace of the Chief Improvement Officer (CDO) in Varanasi, a number of non-public firms responded to a discover concerning their water utilization. For years, these firms had been extracting groundwater with out replenishing it. They had been anticipated to put in rooftop rainwater harvesting (RWH) methods to recharge aquifers as they proceed to extract groundwater.
Whereas non-public firms had been involved concerning the lack of house for rainwater harvesting methods, the CDO of Varanasi, Himanshu Nagpal, was discussing with an area faculty principal the difficulty of waterlogging on campus in the course of the monsoon.
“A easy answer to each points lay proper earlier than me. By putting in rainwater harvesting constructions on the rooftops of public buildings like colleges and faculties, non-public firms may resolve the issues of waterlogging on campus and the house constraints for rainwater harvesting,” the 27-year-old IAS officer tells The Higher India.
The division proposed the answer to the stakeholders and got down to create an inventory of such public buildings that required rooftop rainwater harvesting methods.
Almost a yr and a half in the past, Himanshu noticed a major discrepancy within the district’s groundwater extraction permits. The district acquired solely about 30 No Objection Certificates (NOCs) yearly for groundwater extraction, regardless of experiences of at the very least 700 borewells and submersibles being constructed annually. “Even those that took a NOC wouldn’t arrange rainwater harvesting constructions,” he factors out.
Based on the Consolidated MoJS Pointers to control and management groundwater extraction in India, the proponent (the celebration who has the authorized proper to hold out a challenge) is required to undertake rooftop rainwater harvesting/recharge within the challenge premises.
Himanshu shares, “Folks have been digging borewells and putting in submersibles in houses, inns, and industrial buildings. They’re required to acquire permission from the district administration and, inside a yr, arrange constructions to replenish an equal quantity of water by way of their rooftops. Nevertheless, this regulation is just not being adopted anyplace.”
The district administration recognized such organisations after conducting a survey of 1,435 borewells constructed in industrial premises. Quickly, notices had been issued to them. “This led to the sealing of 150 borewells and the disconnection of their energy connections. Consequently, we acquired at the very least 800 purposes for NOCs. After talking with the candidates, I realized that they lacked adequate house to reap rainwater,” he provides.
The IAS officer supplied an alternate possibility of establishing rainwater harvesting constructions on public buildings. As a part of this initiative, 1,000 public buildings, together with colleges, inter faculties, district hospitals, and numerous division places of work, had been outfitted with rooftop rainwater harvesting methods. Presently, Himanshu experiences that 70 p.c of presidency buildings now have rooftop rainwater harvesting methods put in by non-public entities to fulfil their obligations.
A multi-pronged strategy to rejuvenate groundwater
In an inspiring endeavour to sort out groundwater depletion in Varanasi, Himanshu adopted a complete water rejuvenation challenge that features a multitude of progressive methods to extend the water desk.
One of many important steps taken has been the introduction of 393 ‘Amrit Sarovar’s — synthetic ponds unfold throughout one-acre plots meant for water harvesting, with an extra 50 at the moment underneath development.
“One other pivotal initiative has been the rehabilitation of the Nad river underneath the Nad River Rejuvenation challenge. The river had develop into a nala (soiled drain) as it could obtain pollution from close by industries. We revived the river by way of in depth cleanup efforts over a 30 km stretch and the event of ancillary ponds and test dams,” says the IAS officer.
“As soon as close to extinction, the river now prospers. This has considerably mitigated the incidence of waterborne illnesses and supplied dependable water sources for irrigation and home use in 39 gram panchayats,” he provides.
Along with this, the IAS officer additionally built-in water-soak pits round 6,000 handpumps to make sure that extra water filters into the bottom, considerably lowering floor runoff and selling groundwater recharge.
Himanshu additionally collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund and high academic institutes such IIT (Indian Institute of Expertise)-BHU (Banaras Hindu Universiry) to offer topographical and environmental insights on the wetlands within the area.
“We received to know that if we dig out the wetlands in a scientific method, they are going to be full of water all year long and recharge groundwater and provide water to close by rural improvement blocks and gram panchayats. It should take us three extra months to finish this challenge,” shares Himanshu.
Because of the multi-pronged strategy, Himanshu says the water desk within the area has improved. “Within the final two years, our water desk has elevated from 0.8 to 1 metre. One of many blocks in Varanasi, Pindra, has come out of the darkish standing, which is given to a block with extraordinarily poor groundwater ranges. In Pindra, water had lowered to an extent that we needed to ban any form of groundwater extraction. There, now we have noticed a rise of 1.7 metres within the water desk, because of the revival of the Nad river,” he says.
Within the holistic strategy in direction of groundwater recharge, the IAS officer estimates to have spent Rs 80 crore previously two years. He urges residents to be cognisant of the water shortage within the nation and be actively concerned in water conservation efforts.
“Once we open our faucets, it appears to be a endless useful resource however that isn’t the case. Consider the particular person in a rural space residing in a faraway hinterland who has to stroll miles to fetch water. Being accountable in utilising water may result in a huge impact on their lives. We must always depart a sustainable ecosystem the place children have ample quantities of water sooner or later as a result of no life is feasible with out water,” he says.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photographs: Himanshu Nagpal.
