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Ahmad
Ali Khan
Ahmad Ali Khan, executive engineer at Jamia Hamdard University,
New Delhi, is a thorough professional eager to experiment with
innovative technologies. He has played a key role in developing,
implementing and sustaining the largest and most diverse rainwater
harvesting project that CSE has designed in the Capital. Under
Ali's constant vigil, Jamia harnesses rainwater from roof-tops,
surface and adjoining forest areas in its camps that is spread
over an area of 100 acres. To promote efficient water management
strategies, Ali has also initiated water conservation measures
such as grey water recycling for gardening purposes, and a strict
tapwater-usage regulating system for the buildings in the institute.
He acknowledges that this immense work would not have been possible
without the support and inspiration by Siraj Hussain, Vice Chancellor
of the university.
Water Harvesting System in Jamia
Hamdard University
For details:
Ahmed Ali Khan,
Executive Engineer,
Engineering Department,
Jamia Hamdard University,
New Delhi.
Phone: (011) 26059672/87/88 Extn: 5370 (office), 5371 (res)
Anil
Agarwal
Anil Kumar Agarwal, the founder
of the Centre for Science and Environment, spearheaded the Jal
Swaraj campaign. His thoughts, ideas and opinions remain
the driving force behind the movement. Agarwal conceptualised
and edited the CSE publications Dying Wisdom - which
explores the tremendous potential of India's traditional water
harvesting systems - and Making Water Everybody's Business
- which documents water harvesting technologies that are being
practiced even today by communities in various parts of the
country. These two widely-read books have gone a long way in
putting the issue of community-based water management on the
national agenda.
Agarwal, who passed away on January 2, 2002, graduated from
one of India's leading engineering colleges in 1970, but gave
up a promising technical career to become a science journalist
so he could explore the country's scientific and technological
needs. He joined Delhi's leading English daily The Hindustan
Times as a science correspondent in 1973 and soon discovered
India's most evocative environmental movement - Chipko - in
1974. The reportage of this movement not only led to a nationwide
interest in environmental conservation, it also brought home
to Agarwal the importance that the environment and its natural
resource base hold for the local village economy and for meeting
the daily needs of villagers in terms of water, firewood, fodder,
manure, building materials and medicinal herbs. This was still
a time when the leadership of the developing world believed
that economic development must take precedence over environmental
conservation. But this understanding of the relationship between
the poor and their environment soon turned Agarwal into a lifelong
environmentalist and a renowned environmental analyst and writer.
Aruna
Ludra
Aruna Ludra's association with CSE
began while she was working with Janki Devi Memorial College,
New Delhi, as a reader in English. She has now retired, but
the institution still remembers her as the pioneer who transformed
the terrain of the campus, which is situated in a rocky area.
It all started when, on one particular year, the students and
the faculty faced a severe water shortage. It was then that
Ludra decided to explore the technology of rainwater harvesting.
She approached CSE for guidance and initially even financed
the project herself. The college authorities were impressed
and eventually came forward to support this determined water
warrior. Ludra is currently teaching gardening at the All India
Kitchen Gardeners' Association.
Water Harvesting System at Janki
Devi Memorial College
For details:
Aruna Ludra,
Retired English Lecturer,
C-3, Janki Devi Memorial College,
Sri Ganga Ram Hospital Marg,
Old Rajender Nagar,
New Delhi.
Phone: (011) 25741858, 25786720, (mobile) 9810840158
 Atul
Bhalla
Atul Bhalla teaches art at the Mira Model School, Janakpuri,
New Delhi. He also grooms students into responsible, environmentally-conscious
citizens. Bhalla approached CSE for technical guidance for setting
up a rainwater harvesting system in the school campus, which
covers an area of 16,000 sq.m. He personally supervised the
project and was involved in every phase of construction. Although
the rainwater harvesting system is now operational in Mira Model
School, Bhalla's vigil is far form over. He believes that while
artificial recharging through rainwater harvesting is essential
to sustain the groundwater level, the key to good management
lies in minimising use and preventing wastage. Among the many
other significant measures, he has refurbished and modernised
the tapwater network in the school building. Bhalla's efforts
have earned many accolades for the school, including an ISO
14001-1996 and ISO 9000-2000 accredition for being the best
environmentally managed institution in the capital.
Water Harvesting System at Mira
Model School
 Krishan
Saigal
Dr Krishan Saigal is a retired IAS officer, whose tryst
with the concept of rainwater harvesting began when he was heading
an international NGO promoting sustainable development of oceans
and coastal areas. He initiated a number of roof-top rainwater
harvesting projects in Dalit villages in Tamil Nadu. Since then,
Dr Saigal, who now heads the Panchsheel Cooperative House Building
Society Limited, has become a die-hard proponent of rainwater
harvesting. He successfuly convinced the members of the Managing
Committee of the Society to implement the system in the South
Delhi colony of Panchsheel. Panchsheel Park was in fact the
first residential colony in New Delhi to adopt rainwater harvesting.
Saigal and his team completed the task on their own, with technical
guidance from CSE. Now Panchsheel Park is often projected by
the Delhi state government as a 'model residential area'. Saigal's
enthusiasm and zeal ensures that the colony is always in the
limelight. For the right reasons, of course.
Water Harvesting System at Panchsheel
Park
Madhu
Bhatnagar
Head of Environment and Value Education at the Shri Ram
School in Vasant Vihar, Delhi, Madhu Bhatnagar is spearheading
the campaign for better environment by mobilising students.
"Catch 'em young" is her motto - empowering students
to spread awareness among the families and society. "The
most intractable environmental problem marches towards a solution
when people get involved," she says. After joining
the Shri Ram School, Bhatnagar started an environmental club
known as The Green Brigade. Through this club, the school has
been on the forefront of various campaigns like the anti-plastic
drive, anti-cracker drive, fighting for banning the use of mongoose
hair for paintbrushes, and promoting rainwater harvesting.
Under her leadership, the school has implemented a rainwater
harvesting system in the complex. The rooftop water is diverted
through drainpipes to a recharge borewell after it passes through
a filtration-cum-buffer tank, which was made at a cost of Rs
1,30,000. The work was completed in May 2000, and is yielding
rich dividends. Already by 2002, the groundwater table had increased
by almost four metres. The quality of water has also shown considerable
improvement. The school has now plans to assist rainwater harvesting
projects in other municipal schools. They have also sought permission
from the Delhi Development Authority for a rainwater harvesting
project in the Ridge area, just behind the school.
Water Harvesting System at Shri
Ram School
For details:
Madhu Bhatnagar,
Deputy Head,
The Shri Ram School,
D 3 Street, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi 110 057
Subhash
Sharma
Subhash Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Tihar Jail, has played
a key role in setting up a rainwater harvesting project in one
of the largest prisons of the world, covering an area of 400
acres. Sharma's contribution goes beyond the mere setting up
of physical structures. He motivated the prisoners to participate
in the construction work. This not only generated a sense of
ownership among them, it also enabled prison authorities to
complete the project at a much lower cost than initially estimated.
Water Harvesting System in Tihar
Jail
P
L Bhola
P L Bhola, Vice Principal, Mother's International School,
New Delhi, lives in the institution's vast Ashram complex. He
was the first to raise alarm bells about the dipping groundwater
levels of South Delhi. He declared that it was absolutely imperative
to take steps to combat the emerging water crisis. His resolve
is reflected in the rainwater harvesting system installed in
the 27 acre school campus. Bhola has certainly been the driving
force behind the project that has been completed recently.
Water Harvesting System in Sri
Aurobindo Ashram
Brigadier
Ravikant
Brigadier Arun Kumar Ravikant (Retd.) is chief general manager,
Garden Estate, Gurgaon, an up-market residential complex spread
over 22 acres. The brigadier, supported by the Residents' Management
Committee, has initiated a strict regimen in a bid to curtail
wastage of water and power. The result has been extraordinary.
While the water consumption level in Garden Estate has dropped
by an impressive 55 per cent, the energy consumption level too
has fallen by a striking 25-30 per cent.
Water Harvesting System in Garden
Estate
 Ramesh
Arora
Ramesh Arora, chief engineer, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre,
was seriously concerned about the fast depleting groundwater
table in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. In a bid to find a solution
to this problem, he attended a miscellaneous services session
organised by CSE. He decided that rainwater harvesting was the
only sustainable way to bring relief. Subsequently, with the
help of CSE professionals, he developed detailed designs of
rainwater harvesting structures, and built it in the hospital
premises covering an area of 11.04 acres.
Water harvesting system in Indian
Spinal Injuries Centre
Vijay
Toley
Vijay Toley, Executive Director of Tex Corp Limited, Gurgaon,
Haryana, created history when he set up a rainwater harvesting
system in the company's 4,000 sq m office premises with assistance
from CSE. No other factory in the congested Gurgaon industrial
area had achieved this till then. Many have followed since.
Toley's contribution in salvaging the fast-depleting groundwater
reserves in this region is, therefore, significant.
Water harvesting system in Tex
Corp
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