Gujarat: Long before govt, slum dweller began Jal Sanchay

Yes, it's clearer than the water. A woman, who lives at one of the corner slum houses near Shyamal crossroads, has proved that she is ahead of the sarkar when it comes to storing rainwater.

She has been dwelling in the dark Rajivnagar shanty for the last 40 years, but saving the free water better than the government's plan propagated through Jal Sanchay programme (water harvesting). Zarina Ghori has been using rainwater since last two years. The family has installed a roof rainwater harvesting system, and their yearly water need is met by the rain. The family have saved time and money by the simple mechanism of installing a water pipe.

They have built an underground tank beneath their room. The tank is seven-feet-deep and ten-feet-wide. They let the water flow from the roof on the first day of the rains. From the second day, they divert the water to the tank. "Before the underground water tank was installed, we used to spend Rs300 to meet our monthly water needs. Also, we used to queue up and go to near by societies to fetch water. However, there is no trouble for water since last two years," said Ghori. When the rain is good, it takes two to three days to fill the tank. "The idea of the system came when an NGO person met and informed us about the possibility of rainwater harvesting. They helped us to install the system, we didn't spend a single penny on it," added Ghori.

The family also said that their skin and hair have improved because of the pure rainwater. Bharti Bhonsale of Mahila Housing Trust said,

"The slum people have to struggle a lot for the basic amenities. We have informed that they can be stored water. One of the houses also agreed immediately to install the system." Taking a leaf from the Ghori family, now there are other two families who are constructing underground tanks to save rainwater from this monsoon.

KNOW THE PROCESS

Rainwater from terrace is diverted through a pipe to a filter tank which removes the inorganic impurities from the liquid. From filter tanks, the water goes to the main tank.