Speaking at a Water Resources Day function here today, CGWB northeastern regional director S C Guha announced that the CGWB has chalked out a plan, involving huge amount of money, to tap rain water and preserve ground water resources from rapid depletion. ''In the first phase, large water reservoirs will be installed at all government buildings in the state capital to harvest rain water,'' Mr Guha said.
Voicing a serious concern over rapid depletion of ground water resources, he emphasised the need to protect the water resources and at the same time tap rain water.
The function was graced by state PHE minister S Hiato, who expressed concern over the increasing water scarcity in Mizoram despite the state receiving heavy rainfall. ''It is very expensive to provide water to the residents in a hilly place like Mizoram. Pumping water from the river has cost us a lot of money, causing financial constraint for rain water harvesting on the other hand,'' the minister said. He encouraged the families to make roof top water harvesting facilities in their houses. The function was organised jointly by CGWB and Central Ground Water Authority under the ministry of water resources.
The water supply system in the capital of Mizoram, originally designed in 1988 for 80,000 people, is now catering to the needs of over 150,000 residents, making it grossly inadequate. Due to inadequate and unreliable water supply people are resorting to rooftop water harvesting the most convenient and economical water supply system. Although Mizoram receives an annual rainfall of 250 centimetre, people living on the hill tops normally suffer from water scarcity as the rain water runs off quickly down the steep mountain slope.
Mizoram government has also been extending its help in constructing water tanks at different places to harvest rain water.
According to sources, around 341 villages have been so far brought under the water supply scheme of the state government and over 305 villages, mostly in rural areas, are yet to get the full benefit of the rural water supply scheme. In addition to this, there are 130 other villages which these schemes have not been able to cover.
In such a situation, the Mizoram government initiated the project of rain water harvesting since 1986 to solve the problem of water scarcity in these villages.
Sources said, 24,185 rain water harvesting tanks have so far been constructed with the assistance of Mizoram government. There are many families who have constructed rain water harvesting facilities at their own expenses.
At present, Aizawl has more than 10,000 rainwater harvesting tanks in individual houses which have been constructed by the residents at their own expense or with state government assistance. In a pollution-free state like Mizoram where major industries are yet to come, rainwater is free from undesirable chemicals and is of potable quality.
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