40 rainwater harvesting structures to come up in Delhi: NDMC

NEW DELHI: The NDMC will come up with 40 rainwater harvesting structures at prime locations in Lutyen's Delhi which will also help restore depleting groundwater table.

"We are developing rainwater harvesting systems with storage facilities. At these spots, the rainwater could be stored and excess water used to recharge the groundwater table," NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar today said.

Kumar said 40 such structures will be set up under the project and as of now, 10 locations have been identified. The systems will be operational in another six months.

Locations identified for the Phase I of the project include Shantipath, Commonwealth games village, Singapore Embassy road, Sardar Patel Marg and Lodhi Garden among others.

"The 10 plants will have a water storage capacity of 50,000 to 1 lakh litre and excess water will be used for perforation of grounds.

"Also during the summer season, we are not able to contain our grass cover properly. We are also strengthening the reservoirs we already have for storing water. Delhi Jal Board services will be used to provide water during summer time to these reservoirs," he added.

As part of its green city initiative, the council has also launched a major plantation drive in which around one lakh saplings are scheduled to be planted.

Saplings from 20 countries including Bangladesh, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, the US, Brazil, Australia, Chile, Cuba, Indonesia and Laos, among others will planted be during the drive.

NDMC areas is home to the high and mighty of the country, including Union Ministers and parliamentarians besides many top industrialists.

Parliament House, offices of all the ministries, Supreme Court, High Court and residences of Supreme Court judges, senior bureaucrats and senior military officers are in NDMC areas.