Rainwater Harvesting A Must For New Buildings In Secunderabad

The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has made it mandatory in its board meeting held in January 2022 to construct rainwater harvesting pits to obtain building permissions in the cantonment area. 

The SCB usually spends ₹20-30 lakhs every monsoon season to revive around 800 dead power borewells in all SCB wards, due to the severe plunge in groundwater levels. 

P Kalyan, resident of Mahendra Hills, said, “Out of 370 residential colonies, hardly 70 colonies have followed the concept. Moreover, SCB does not have a technical team to help the people in building the RWH pits. We have to seek help from either the HMWSSB or private firms." 

D Rahul Reddy, Marredpally's resident said, “Mahendra Hills is rocky terrain, and chances of rainwater percolation are very less. However, other civilian areas, except for Mahendra Hills, are seeing an increase in groundwater levels every rainy season. There is no other option for us, except to go for RWH pits." 

Though the RWH structures should have been readied before monsoon, the SCB officials believe it's never too late to start something new. 

A member of the cantonment board suggested building a rainwater harvesting theme park at class ‘C’ land or at SCB main office.