Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Vidarbha: Impact of Jal Shakti Abhiyan

thenewsdirt
6 days ago
6 min read

India’s growing water crisis has made water conservation one of the most pressing issues of our time. In response, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), a national initiative, has sought to tackle the depletion of water resources through various strategies, with rooftop rainwater harvesting (RWH) being at the forefront of these efforts.

The goal was to ensure that every building, from homes to schools, captures rain where it falls. This initiative has seen significant strides in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, particularly in urban homes and schools, where water scarcity and unreliable supply remain constant challenges.

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan has mobilised both governmental bodies and local communities, pushing for the adoption of RWH systems not only to prevent flooding but also to help replenish groundwater levels.

From rural areas to densely populated urban centres like Nagpur and Amravati, this initiative has provided an important framework to conserve one of India’s most precious resources.

However, the actual implementation and impact of these systems in Vidarbha reflect a complex mix of success stories, persistent challenges, and evolving strategies that are shaping the future of water management in the region.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: A National Water Conservation Initiative

Launched in 2019, Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a national water conservation campaign aimed at tackling the country’s water crisis by focusing on water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and watershed development.

The initiative encourages citizens and authorities to take action before the monsoon, promoting the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in every building and public space.

“Catch the Rain”, the campaign’s slogan, underscored the urgency of collecting rain where it falls, highlighting rainwater harvesting as an immediate solution to India’s deepening water shortage.

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan consists of five key interventions: water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional water bodies, reuse of water and recharge structures, watershed development, and intensive afforestation.

The campaign has placed significant emphasis on rainwater harvesting, with rooftop RWH systems being considered essential in both rural and urban areas. Government regulations made RWH mandatory for large buildings, and incentives were introduced to promote its installation among homeowners and schools.

Public-private partnerships were also encouraged to install rainwater harvesting systems, and Jal Shakti Kendras (Rain Centres) were set up in districts to educate citizens on the technicalities of installing these systems.

In 2023, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan extended its efforts further by reaching out to urban cities and communities, recognising the importance of water harvesting not just in villages but also in the expanding urban population.

Cities like Nagpur and Amravati were key targets in Maharashtra, where the water scarcity issue is becoming more apparent as urbanisation continues to accelerate.

Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Vidarbha

Vidarbha, a region in the eastern part of Maharashtra, has long struggled with water scarcity due to irregular rainfall and overexploitation of groundwater.

The state government’s water policy, introduced in 2019, mandated rainwater harvesting in urban and industrial areas, and in several districts of Vidarbha, this policy has been implemented with varying degrees of success.

Nagpur, the largest city in the region, and Amravati, the divisional headquarters, have both been central to the implementation of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, with the adoption of rainwater harvesting systems progressing steadily.

Nagpur, with its population of approximately 2.4 million, made significant strides in introducing mandatory rainwater harvesting for new buildings starting in 2009. However, the enforcement of these rules has remained inconsistent.

Despite government mandates, residents of urban areas have been slow to implement rooftop systems due to several factors, including the cost of installation, lack of awareness, and inadequate follow-up inspections by municipal authorities.

According to reports from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), of the city’s 705,000 properties, only a few thousand have installed functional systems. The 5% tax rebate offered by NMC to encourage RWH adoption has yielded modest results, with 1,363 properties taking advantage of this incentive as of 2024.

In contrast, Amravati, with a smaller urban footprint, has seen more immediate success in integrating rooftop rainwater harvesting into its urban planning. Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC) has been more proactive in promoting the initiative, having introduced awareness campaigns, workshops, and public discussions.

AMC has also streamlined the process of obtaining permits for rooftop systems, simplifying what might otherwise be a daunting task for residents. Despite these efforts, retrofit systems for older homes still face significant barriers, with a lack of technical support and maintenance problems hindering the effectiveness of many installations.

Rainwater Harvesting in Schools and Public Buildings

As part of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan’s broader mandate, schools and public institutions in Vidarbha have been encouraged to implement rooftop rainwater harvesting systems to address water shortages.

The Nagpur Smart City Project, in partnership with international bodies, successfully installed IoT-enabled rainwater harvesting systems in two municipal schools.

This system allows for real-time monitoring of groundwater levels and the overall effectiveness of the rainwater collection, making Nagpur one of the first cities in India to use Internet of Things (IoT) technology in water conservation.

In addition to these pilot projects, many schools in Vidarbha have installed simpler systems to capture rainwater for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and garden irrigation. One such example is the Jarida Village Ashram School in Amravati, which installed a rooftop harvesting system in 2022, improving its water security during the dry months.

This system collects rainwater from the rooftop, stores it in a tank, and uses it for basic needs, ensuring that the school has access to water even when external sources are unreliable.

Schools like these also serve as models for surrounding communities, spreading the message of water conservation.

Despite these efforts, the scale of implementation in schools has been limited. Many schools in rural Vidarbha, particularly in smaller towns, lack the necessary infrastructure to install rooftop harvesting systems.

Financial constraints, especially in government-run schools, continue to be a significant hurdle. Nonetheless, as the region’s water crisis deepens, there is growing recognition that rainwater harvesting in schools must be prioritised as an essential step in ensuring water availability for both educational and hygiene purposes.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the Jal Shakti Abhiyan has succeeded in placing rainwater harvesting on the policy agenda, its actual implementation in Vidarbha has been challenged by a variety of factors. These include:

Awareness and Education: Despite campaigns, many residents still do not understand the importance of rainwater harvesting or how to install and maintain these systems properly. Lack of training for masons and plumbers further exacerbates this problem, as poorly designed systems often lead to failure or inefficiency. There is a need for better technical education at the grassroots level.
Cost and Financial Barriers: Though rainwater harvesting systems can be cost-effective in the long run, the upfront installation cost remains a barrier, especially for low-income households. In urban areas, the cost is often exacerbated by the need for retrofit systems that work with existing buildings.
Maintenance Issues: Many systems, especially in older buildings, face problems with clogging, corrosion, and overflow. These issues lead to reduced efficiency and the eventual abandonment of the systems. Ensuring that systems are maintained regularly and that people are educated on proper care is essential to their long-term success.
Enforcement and Compliance: While policies mandating rooftop rainwater harvesting exist in many urban centres, enforcement remains inconsistent. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have not been retrofitted with rainwater harvesting systems. Additionally, municipal authorities often lack the resources to inspect and verify compliance, which weakens the effectiveness of these policies.

Despite these challenges, there are clear opportunities to scale up rainwater harvesting in Vidarbha.

NGO-led initiatives, government incentives, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects have been crucial in bringing attention to the need for RWH.

Furthermore, community participation has proven effective in spreading awareness and implementing RWH in local areas. The involvement of educational institutions, where students are taught about the benefits of rainwater harvesting, plays a pivotal role in raising awareness among young people, who then take the knowledge home and encourage their families to adopt these practices.

The expansion of rooftop rainwater harvesting under Jal Shakti Abhiyan is an important step toward securing water resources for Vidarbha’s future. While adoption rates have been uneven, and several challenges remain, the region has made significant progress in integrating this water conservation practice into urban homes and schools.

The success stories in Nagpur and Amravati, combined with ongoing efforts to improve public awareness and technical support, suggest that Vidarbha could become a model for other water-stressed regions in India.

As the state’s water crisis intensifies, continued policy support, community involvement, and technical improvements will be essential for scaling up rooftop rainwater harvesting and ensuring that every drop of rain counts in the fight against water scarcity.