Rainwater Harvesting in Datia (MP)

Rooftop rainwater harvesting in every house

 

Kamhar village does not have household tap connections, but does boast of household level rainwater harvesting. This village has 5 recharge pits and the dugwell has been converted into a sanitary well. Owing to these efforts, now some of their old dugwells and handpumps have been revived as groundwater levels have risen. After extensive digging and bunding, their pond now harvests a lot more rainwater than before, therefore lasting longer. In Samrauli village, every household has its own dugwell, which is now being used as a recharge structure for their rooftop rainwater harvesting. School children no longer walk long distances to get water as their handpump has been revived with rising groundwater levels.

“With the integrated water resource management approach, we have tried to address problems of sanitation, agriculture and drinking water together” explained Vijay Singh from Parhit, working in the bone-dry Datia district of Bundelkhand. The difference in Parhit’s work is in the fact that instead of beginning with distribution and thinking about source sustainability later, it has struck the problem at its root. It has emphasised more on source sustainability by way of rooftop rainwater harvesting on all concrete buildings, reviving old dugwells and ponds etc. Household level distribution is the next step, only if the villagers desire it.