Pakshal Sanghvi, Director, Sanghvi Realty
By Pakshal Sanghvi, Director, Sanghvi Realty
Benjamin Franklin said, “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” Mumbai’s population is burgeoning every passing day, and since major parts of Maharashtra were suffering from drought; there is an increased focus on water consumption in Mumbai.
Due to mass media awareness many campaigns urging citizens to play dry Holi, not use swimming pools and reduce water wastage were churned out. However, a need was felt for concrete steps that address the problem of water scarcity on a holistic level.
In 2001, Tamil Nadu was the first state to make rainwater harvesting compulsory and it gave excellent results within 5 years, and slowly every state has taken it as a role model. Since its implementation Chennai has seen a 50% increase in Ground Water levels and the water quality has improved significantly. In 2002, the BMC put in place legislation mandating that all constructions on an area of 1000 sq mts have to set-up a water harvesting plant as a prerequisite for obtaining a completion certificate.
In 2007, the BMC amended it and made it mandatory for plots measuring 300 sq mts and above to show a rain water harvesting plant in its plans. It has also made recycling compulsory for buildings having centralized AC plants. But despite putting in place such legislation more than a decade ago, the government still doesn’t have concrete data to show the number of buildings that have implemented rain water harvesting.
Rainfall is an important manageable resource that is available for wider use and rainwater harvesting is the quickest and easiest way to become more efficient. It is important to note that if your rainwater is to be used for human consumption, the system must be designed, operated and maintained to ensure the water quality is suitable.
In developed countries, rainwater that is being harvested is usually used to supplement the main supply. Most of our buildings at Sanghvi Realty employ rainwater harvesting and also a sewage water recycling plant. We feel that it’s a part of our corporate social responsibility towards the environment and the next generation. Our architects take all environmental concerns into account so that all homes are environmental friendly and conserve the environment.