As Delhi prepares for the arrival of the monsoon, the city is launching one of its largest groundwater recharge drives in recent years. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has announced an ambitious rainwater harvesting campaign aimed at capturing millions of litres of rainwater that would otherwise flow into drains and be wasted.
The initiative comes at a time when concerns over declining groundwater levels and rising water demand continue to challenge the capital’s long-term water security.
Under the first phase of the campaign, DJB plans to construct 500 new rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures and revive 1,000 non-functional systems installed in government buildings across Delhi.
The drive will cover properties belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Directorate of Education and several other government agencies.
Officials said the goal was straightforward: to ensure every drop of rain falling on these buildings is captured and channelled back into the ground.
Delhi receives substantial rainfall during the monsoon, yet much of it is lost as surface runoff. Rainwater harvesting helps replenish underground aquifers, improve groundwater levels and reduce pressure on conventional water sources.
Although rainwater harvesting has been mandatory for plots measuring 100 square metres and above since 2001, many existing systems have fallen into disrepair due to poor maintenance.
According to DJB, about 7,596 of Delhi’s 9,148 government buildings already have rainwater harvesting facilities. However, not all are functioning effectively. The current campaign seeks to restore these systems before the monsoon arrives in full force.
If implemented successfully, the project could recharge nearly 733 million litres of water every year — equivalent to more than 73 crore litres being returned to Delhi’s groundwater reserves annually.
For a city that frequently faces water shortages during summer months, the impact could be significant. The Delhi Jal Board has set an aggressive timeline for the project.
Tenders are being floated immediately, work orders will be issued during the first week of June, and all Phase-I works are expected to be completed by June 30. Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma stressed that water conservation must become a year-round priority rather than a seasonal concern.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising five eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling English daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the newspaper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia
Leave a Reply