The rainwater harvesting system developed by Col Nandu Kumar, hailing from Bengaluru, is not patented and anybody can try it. One unit just costs about Rs 1,000
Bengaluru: An IT professional-turned-Territorial Army (TA) officer from Bengaluru has developed a cost-effective rainwater harvesting system to conserve water at his battalion in the border district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is currently posted in Samba.
Commanding officer, Col Nandu Kumar, 129 Infantry Battalion (TA) Eco JAK LI, developed the rainwater harvesting system, which has been working well for the last couple of weeks in the battalion.
Kumar reportedly said that he has observed that about 4000 to 5000 litres of water flows per hour on an average through the pipe from the rooftop into the drum. The same percolates into the ground effectively.
One rainwater harvesting unit will cost about Rs 1,000. According to Kumar, the materials required to set up a unit consists of a 200-litre plastic drum, pipe fittings each costing Rs 500 along with some sand and pebbles.
To build the rainwater harvesting system, eight to nine foot deep pits that are four feet in diameter have to be dug first. Kumar reportedly said that an industrial plastic drum with holes all around including four to five holes of one to two centimetres at the bottom have to be made. Following this, the pipes are fitted. At the pipe bend, gully trap is introduced to collect dust and solid waste. 10 to 15 holes that are 2 feet deep are drilled all around the pit. Alternately pebbles and sand are sandwiched and placed around the drum from bottom to top and filled up to the brim. It is then covered with one foot top-soil, reports said.
Kumar reportedly said that it takes one to two days to implement the system. The battalion at Samba currently has 10 such rainwater harvesting systems. He went ahead to say that it is not only cost effective, but most necessary to bring up the water table. In Bengaluru, the water table has been exploited and it needs to be replenished, he said.
With the rising water crisis across the country, every citizen has to make it a point to contribute to conservation of water. It could be done using the system developed by Col Nandu Kumar or by being cautious while performing everyday activities.
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