The Delhi Government will revive and operationalise rainwater harvesting systems in 75 CM Shri Schools across the Capital before the onset of the monsoon, with an estimated annual water conservation potential of nearly 50 crore litres, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Thursday.
According to the government, the initiative aims to strengthen rainwater conservation, improve groundwater recharge and promote awareness about water-saving practices among students and local communities.
Officials recently presented a detailed project report to the Chief Minister after conducting audits of rainwater harvesting infrastructure in all 75 schools. The inspections found that while most schools already had rainwater harvesting systems, many had remained defunct for years due to poor maintenance.
Several harvesting pits were found clogged with plastic waste, silt and debris, while in some schools authorities were reportedly unaware that such structures even existed on the campus. The audit also found rainwater flowing directly into drains at several locations, limiting groundwater recharge.
To address these issues, the government has prepared a corrective action plan that includes desilting harvesting pits, replacing filter media, connecting rainwater pipes to proper channels and improving maintenance access through larger manholes and safer entry points. Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems will also be installed or upgraded in all participating schools.
The Chief Minister said the government would implement the “Ehsaas” rainwater harvesting model, approved by the Delhi Jal Board in 2021. The model is considered low-cost, space-efficient and requires minimal maintenance. Under the system, rainwater collected from rooftops will be filtered and diverted into storage units and borewells to aid groundwater recharge and revive dry borewells.
Highlighting the scale of potential savings, the government said school rooftops alone could conserve nearly 130 million litres of rainwater annually, while the total catchment capacity across the 75 schools could reach around 50 crore litres each year.
