India News | Modern Rainwater Harvesting Systems to Be Installed in 75 CM Shri Schools Under 'Catch the Rain' Initiative: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. The project is expected to enable groundwater recharge of approximately two lakh litres annually in each school, helping strengthen water conservation and improve groundwater levels in the capital. Based on the outcomes of this pilot model, the Delhi Government plans to expand the rainwater harvesting system in phases to other government schools in Delhi as well as schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): A significant tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday at the Delhi Secretariat under the 'Catch the Rain' initiative between Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), the Directorate of Education and Ehsaas NGO in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Under the agreement, a rainwater harvesting project will be implemented in 75 CM Shri Schools across Delhi.
According to a press release from the Chief Minister's office, the project will be implemented under IGL's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. It includes the audit and restoration of existing rainwater harvesting systems on school campuses, as well as the installation of new rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. Water conservation and environmental awareness programmes will also be organised for students and teachers.
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The project is expected to enable groundwater recharge of approximately two lakh litres annually in each school, helping strengthen water conservation and improve groundwater levels in the capital. Based on the outcomes of this pilot model, the Delhi Government plans to expand the rainwater harvesting system in phases to other government schools in Delhi as well as schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the initiative would provide a new direction to water conservation and environmental sustainability in Delhi and would play an important role in making the capital greener and more sustainable in the years ahead.
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.
She said the government's goal is to make government schools in the capital so outstanding that parents will, in the future, prefer enrolling their children in them instead of private schools. She added that the initiative is an important step towards effectively implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji's 'Catch the Rain' vision in Delhi and that the government has chosen to begin this effort with schools, the release said.
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.
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, the release said.
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 press release stated.
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.
The press release further noted that the project also includes inspection and restoration of rainwater harvesting infrastructure, along with special workshops on water conservation in every school. These workshops will create awareness among students and teachers about water use, groundwater recharge and environmental sustainability. The project has been planned for a duration of 12 months, and its progress will be monitored through geo-tagged photographs, utilisation certificates and regular evaluations, the release said.
Education Minister Ashish Sood said that, under the guidance of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, continuous efforts are being made to make CM Shri Schools distinct from ordinary schools. He said CM Shri Schools will not only be digitally enabled but will also provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the modern curriculum in line with the National Education Policy, Science of Living and subjects related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the press release stated.
He said the 'Catch the Rain' campaign is an integral part of this broader vision. Besides encouraging responsibility towards water conservation and the environment, the initiative will also inspire students to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. He added that at the very beginning of the current academic session, the government had set a target of converting all 1,000 government schools in the capital into Zero Waste Campuses. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)