Jalam Jeevam launched with gusto, but CMO first pitfall

HYDERABAD: Alarmed at diminishing groundwater table in major cities, the Telangana government recently launched Jalam Jeevam programme aimed at construction of lakhs of rainwater harvesting (RWH) pits across Hyderabad. But what has baffled officials is the alleged silence of the chief minister’s office (CMO) on construction of about 20 recharge pits in the CM’s camp office ground.
The government, in fact, came out with the catchy slogan, Hydrate Hyderabad, in a bid to create awareness among people on the need to build rainwater harvesting structures to conserve rainwater. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has launched a massive drive to construct recharge pits in new and existing multi-storied apartment complexes.




The water board has proposed constructing about 20 recharge pits in the sprawling ground attached to the chief minister’s residence at Greenlands. According to sources, so far there has been no response from the officials in the CMO. Senior officials in the water board and CMO, however, are tight lipped on the issue. Officials could not be contacted to obtain reasons for the alleged silence on the important flagship programme.

According to sources, the camp office consumes between 13 lakh to 17 lakh litres of piped water e very month. In addition, about 10 water tankers are supplied. Officials have proposed RWH pits to improve groundwater table not only in the CM’s camp office but also in the entire Greenlands area.

Pending clearance from the CMO, officials of the HMWS&SB completed the tender process a month ago. Water board officials are now awaiting permission from the CMO to go ahead with the RWH pits.

For security reasons the water board sent a letter to the CMO listing out the names of people, who would participate in the RWH work in the CM’s camp office ground. Sources said the CMO did not reply to the letter thus far.

The water board had already completed soil testing on the CM’s camp office premises and identified areas where to dig RWH pits. “We have even submitted the details of the structures to the CMO,” an official of the water board said. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has so far conducted a series of meetings with government departments, defence, police and GHMC. It also conducted awareness programmes and walkathons to educate people on importance of RWH.

As many as 1,500 RHW pits have been constructed under the programme.

“We will now appeal to municipal minister K Taraka Rama Rao to take the initiative and help us get permission to construct RWH pits in the camp office. We require just two weeks to complete the construction,” the official said.

TIMES VIEW: Rainwater harvesting structures play a key role in the recharge of the groundwater table. Senior officials should intervene and grant permission to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) to construct the proposed 20 rainwater harvesting pits on the premises of the chief minister’s camp office which is set to improve groundwater table not only in the CM’s camp office but also in the Greenlands area .