‘Groundwater recharge –Tamilnadu ordinance of July 2003 to be recharged’

Water shortages are a perennial problem in India. Water Conservation needs to become a people’s movement in India. In Tamilnadu for a long time, builders had been required to put in roof-top rain water harvesting systems [RWH] in new constructions. But recoiling under two years of drought, the government in July 2003 got pro-active: it proclaimed an Ordinance that gave three months for all city buildings to retro-fit RWH systems. Most commendably, all government building had to fall in line as well. Widest publicity was given across the state. Civil servants were asked to make RWH their number one priority. School children marched through most streets urging citizens to act. There was also a stick: if a building missed the October deadline, it's services were liable to be cut and have RWH systems installed by the state, with costs to owners. Groundwater recharge began to happen in quick time. Water Conservation needs to be addressed through local solutions, micro successes, raising awareness, involving people and altering collective behaviour. ‘Little drops of water make a mighty ocean’ likewise ‘small efforts will aggregate to a grand solution’, instead of waiting and waiting for linking Indian rivers, let the dream comes true, but small is beautiful. The life line RWH project of Tamilnadu has been conveniently forgotten for around half a decade which created a major concern for water shortage in several parts of Tamilnadu. Thus for ‘Groundwater recharge –Tamilnadu ordinance of July 2003 is to be recharged’. Ancient peoples collected and stored rainwater in wet seasons to sustain themselves in dryer days. Today, the practice is being revived through community systems that provide not only water, but local control over the sometimes-contentious distribution of this precious resource. Rainwater Harvesting programs seek to capture this monsoon rain and make it last the whole year. The idea was to raise awareness about the effectiveness of RWH as a solution to community water needs.

Whether or not small is beautiful, where nature's dispersed resources are concerned, it is the only approach that can reach everyone and provide lasting solutions. Rural Technology centre of SEVAI in Sirugamani promotes inexpensive rooftop collection systems. The Rainwater harvesting is the simple collection or storing of water through scientific techniques from the areas where the rain falls. It involves utilization of rain water for the domestic or the agricultural purpose. It is as far the best possible way to conserve water and awaken the society towards the importance of water. The method is simple and cost effective too. The design and site (location) of the storage or the recharge system should be properly chosen. The areas which receive the rainfall frequently, there a simple storage system could be constructed, to meet the daily water requirements. Rainwater harvesting first of all increases water security. It is the perfect solution to meet water requirements especially in the areas which do not have sufficient water resources. It helps in improving the quality of the ground water and increasing the level of the ground level. It reduces the loss of top layer of the soil. If we capture the water directly we need not to depend much on the water storage dams. It is the good solution to the increasing water crises. Rain water harvesting reduces the flooding on roads and further prevents it from contamination. The rain water that stagnates on the small ponds, ooranis and other tanks would be beneficial for the cattle, especially for the kidaimaadus that, otherwise need to trek long distances in search of water. Each drop of water saved means a lot in these tough times. It is a prime duty for each one of us to be on guard, as far as the saving of this precious resource is concerned. In the drier regions of the planet, harvesting the rain water attains a place of supreme importance. -Govin