Over 200 Students Learn Rainwater Harvesting Under the Catch the Rain Drive
Key Points:
- Jal Samvad programme held on college campus on July 27
- Students shown working harvesting system installed at the college
- Civic body offers free technical help to interested building owners
MANGO – More than 200 students took part in a water dialogue at Karim City College, where the municipal corporation explained how rooftop rainfall can be routed back into the ground.
The programme was organised on Monday. It came under the Catch the Rain campaign of the Mango Municipal Corporation.
Faculty members joined the students at the session. The principal and other staff also took part.
Moreover, the aim was to explain groundwater recharge in practical terms. The need, technical aspects and importance of harvesting were covered.
Shreyansh, project manager and IEC expert with the civic body, led the interaction. He spoke about the environmental and social gains of the practice.
He also outlined its role in meeting a deepening water crisis. Questions raised by students were answered during the session.
Besides, students were urged to adopt conservation habits. They were asked to make it part of daily life.
A field demonstration followed the discussion. Students were taken to the harvesting system on the campus.
They were shown how rainfall is collected at the site. The recharge process was then explained scientifically.
The system plays an effective role in conservation, they were told. The demonstration formed the core of the day’s programme.
Meanwhile, the corporation issued an appeal to residents. Those wishing to install such systems may approach the office directly.
Its engineering team will provide the necessary technical guidance. Support for installation will also be extended.
In addition, officials pointed to a regulatory requirement. Installing harvesting systems in buildings is mandatory.
Owners who install them can avoid an additional penalty on holding tax. Eligible owners were urged to act quickly.
Mohammad Shahnawaz, the principal in charge, supported the arrangements. Balram Poddar, Dr Mahfooz Alam and Parvez Alam were also involved.
Sania Nishat, Farhat Naz, Bulbul Das and Firoz Khan extended cooperation. Teaching and non-teaching staff assisted alongside students.
However, the value of such sessions was underlined afterwards. Poddar, a lecturer in the history department, praised the initiative.
“These sessions give students a working grasp of conservation,” he said. He called for such programmes to be held regularly.
The corporation has continued similar outreach at other venues. Awareness events are being held at institutions and public places.
The intent is to turn harvesting into a people’s movement, officials said. Future water security has been cited as the goal.
The Karim City College campus has hosted several such drives. Its NCC cadets took part in a river cleaning drive in June.
On the other hand, its NSS unit ran a cleanliness drive in a village earlier. The college also held a skills day contest this month.
The district administration has pressed the same theme. The deputy commissioner has called water conservation a collective duty.
A river and mountain conference was held in the city in May. Heavy showers this month had also exposed the city’s drainage failure.
