Goa has always been blessed with an
abundance of rainfall. But water is one
treasure we cannot take for granted; every
effort has to be made to preserve it. While
it might be happening at a slower pace
as compared to bigger cities and states,
development and urbanisation is taking its
toll on Goa’s natural resources and it won’t
be long before we face a scarcity of fresh
water during summer. However, the rains
that shower endlessly in Goa for around
three months of the monsoon season can
help us get through the summer, if we
only learn how to utilise rainwater well.
And here enters the miraculous solution:
rainwater harvesting.
According to Amar Heblekar, Assistant
Conservator of Forests and Principal of
Forest Training School, Valpoi, the main
idea behind rainwater harvesting is to
store the water for future usage rather than
letting it go to waste. Heblekar, who had
started a similar project in Cotigao Wildlife
Sanctuary in as early as 1992, states, “In
Goa, we largely depend on the water
supplied by the PWD throughout the year.
But instead of relying on just that, if we
choose to install a tank and collect and
use the rainwater, it will certainly make
a difference. With proper arrangements,
rainwater that is harvested can be used
for around four months of the year. Thus,
we will successfully conserve 1/3rd or
around 33 per cent of the total water
supply, in turn also saving the amount of
money and energy that goes in supplying
the water.”
Along with storage of the rainwater,
another purpose that rainwater harvesting
methods can serve is helping groundwater
levels to rise. “In order to avoid water
scarcity in future, it is very important to
recharge groundwater. It happened easily
earlier, but today, due to concrete roads
and cemented floors, it gets difficult for
water to enter the soil,” informs Heblekar.
Suggesting a solution, Heblekar says
that the builders who build residential
complexes can make arrangements in
their societies where water can reach the
ground easily. He explains, “Every colony
must divert rainwater to the ground. This
can be done by digging a pit of 5mx5m
dimension and fill it wit rubble. Rainwater
can be diverted to that pit and water will
percolate through stones to the ground.
This is recommended, especially around
a borewell.”
Jalyatra is another rainwater harvesting
initiative that aims to find out the age-old
water harvesting systems in our villages
and cities and revive their use. A brainchild
of Dr Dattaram Desai, this initiative
seeks to make people aware of these
water management techniques through
personal contact as well as social media.
“Through Jalyatra, we look out for the
old water harvesting techniques used
in different places across Goa, find out
how they work and try to improve them.
These systems have not been maintained
and used fully for the last 60 years or so.
People wait for the government to step in
instead of stepping up themselves. We try
to spread awareness about the importance
of working on this initiative as a
community,” Dr Desai expresses. Jalayatra
is a voluntary group wherein the members
visit different villages every Sunday, talk to
people, learn about the water preservation
techniques used in their villages and then
guide the people for their optimum usage.
International Centre Goa (ICG) that is
located in Dona Paula has also initiated a
Rainwater Harvesting and Groundwater
Recharging Project in their premises.
Ayub Khwaja, General Manager of ICG,
describes the project, saying, “Taking
advantage of the large landscaped area
and the flat roof surface of the guest
rooms, we set up the project of water
harvesting at ICG. Initially, we recharged
our two borewells which are operational
but starve for water during summer. The
water is mainly used for landscaping
activities and with water harvesting, the
yield has gone up by 55 per cent. We got
support from the Managing Director of
Bisleri who sponsored 80 per cent of the
project cost. The consultancy for the same
was obtained from Goa University. Dr
Chachedi of the Earth Science Department
of Goa University submitted the initial
feasibility report and also guided us
through the further implementation.”
Dr Desai concludes, saying, “Every
year, Goa receives an average rainfall of
around 100-150 inches. Instead of letting
all of that water go to waste, if we find a
way to preserve it, we would never face
water scarcity, even in summer. Awareness
and working with people are the two
things that can help increase the efficiency
of rainwater harvesting projects in Goa.”
