ALLAHABAD: Making a strong pitch for conserving each drop of water during the upcoming monsoon season, volunteers of Jal ChetnaYatra are taking up a campaign among villagers of Allahabad and Pratapgarh districts asking them to take initiatives to check the depleting level of groundwater and water conservation.
Apart from restoring of old pond in rural pockets, the volunteers are also appealing masses to adopt recycling of used-water. The campaign was taken in five blocks of Pratapgarh and Allahabad wherein volunteers were holding chaupals with an objective to take effective steps towards water conversation and recharging of ground water level.
SamajShekhar, convener of Jal ChetnaYatra told TOI, "Apart from restoring of old ponds, villagers are also discussing conversion of waste water into safe, clean water using low cost natural methods." He further added "majority of people don't know about the recycling of used water but there is an urgent need to create awareness over the recycling of used water".
Shekhar further maintained "people of over three dozen villages have joined hands to restore the old ponds to collect rainy water and are making efforts to reach out every individual with the appeal of save water".
Interestingly, women folks have too joined Jal bachao campaign after they were apprised about the depleting status of ground water level.
" Villagers are not much aware about the depleting status of ground water level but when told about the prevailing scenario, they took oath of making efforts to collect rainy water so that it could recharge the level of ground water.
Experts too advise that 'grey water', which is the used water from kitchen sinks, showers and washing machines and 50 to 70 per cent of household water that goes down the drain, should be reused or recycled to flush toilets or water outdoor purposes including floor cleaning, washing cars, gardening in urban as well as for irrigation purpose in rural areas. "Rainwater improves the quality of ground water through dilution when recharged and the system is not expensive."
In urban pockets, rainwater harvesting systems are simple and can be adopted by individuals as they are easy to construct, operate and maintain. Experts say rainwater harvesting could be done only during monsoon while benefits of recycling of grey water can be reaped throughout the year.
