MillenniumPost
Opinion

Residents towards conservation

Resident Welfare Associations could play an integral role in developing community projects to conserve water – a case study from Andhra Pradesh shows

Water is one of the most vital components of life. The rapid pace of irrigation growth, urbanisation and industrialisation has put enormous stress on water resources. The cumulative impact of the increase in usage of this precious natural resource has led to water scarcity in many regions of the country. Climate Change has also resulted in changing the hydrological cycle.

Across the world, water is becoming scarce. People's needs are increasing and resources are dwindling. Hence, it is necessary that this scarce resource is protected by effective and efficient management, based on sound scientific methodology for its sustainable development.

The need of the hour, therefore, is to adopt innovative practices of groundwater augmentation by rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge, promoting water use efficiency, recycling and reusing water and creating awareness through people's participation in targeted areas, resulting in the sustainability of groundwater resource development, adequate capacity building amongst stakeholders, etc.

It is here that the responsibility of every citizen comes in, to make every effort to conserve, manage and augment our water resources at the local level.

Role of RWAs

A Resident Welfare Association (RWA) is essentially a group-housing system in a layout, spread over an area or built into floors of apartments in a building. Whether the houses are laid vertically or horizontally, these neighbourhood communities are registered under cooperative laws or as civil associations.

RWAs are typically registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. They are entirely self-financed and self-managed. RWAs are the finest expression of civil society consensus; an answer to urban problems; a tool for community building, self-management and direct democracy.

An urban resident is endowed with intensive communication skills, fast transport and uninhibited relations with other human beings. They can play a vital role in building up a knowledge-based society.

RWAs now exist in large numbers in different parts of the country, and in some states/UTs like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, we have a federation of RWAs. The Confederation of RWAs (CoRWA), founded in 2012, is a pan-India apex body of RWAs, located in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Residents unite

Jagannadharaju Nagar RWA in Visakhapatnam was formed in 1993 with humble beginnings and about four members. Today, it is one of the most prominent RWAs spearheading the cause of RWA mission in the city. It is a conglomeration of about 20 apartment complexes and about 50 individual houses, accommodating nearly 1,500 residents.

This RWA has won several awards and appreciations for its achievements in serving the residents at the micro level. It has its own website and runs two WhatsApp groups for quick dissemination of any information about the colony's activities.

It is affiliated to the Andhra Pradesh State Federation of RWAs (APFERWAS) and is associated with several activities both in the colony and in the city of Visakhapatnam on civic issues like solid waste management, rainwater harvesting, clean and green, solar energy, waste composting, women's security, plastic pollution, etc.

Several members of this RWA have been handling key responsibilities at the Visakhapatnam chapter level and at APFERWAS as well as CoRWA. This author is currently president of the colony and secretary general of CoRWA.

The colony had organised two national seminars so far on the "concept of model colony" and on "RWAs' role in combating the degrading urban environment".

Water conservation & harvesting

JR Nagar RWA has made significant achievements in the area of rainwater harvesting (RWH) as well as water conservation by implementing a systematic plan of providing the RWH pits as well as by sensitising the residents through various awareness programs.

Before 2000, there were no RWH pits in the colony and no recharge pits in apartments and individual houses. The RWA started focussing on the need for water conservation and management since 2000, consequent to the rapid increase in the consumption of groundwater by multi-storied apartments

Since 2000, a systematic approach was made in implementing RWH in individual apartments by directing the excess water from the terraces and other outlets to the recharge pits in the premises; and today, almost 70 per cent of the apartments have their own recharging pits. Rainwater outlets of these houses/apartments, particularly from the terraces, are now connected to recharging pits. There are nearly 26 such pits out of the 20 apartments.

Since 2012, eight RWH pits have been constructed along the roadside, each of approximately 5'x3'x5' feet, following the standard technical procedure. The locations of these pits were chosen based on the topography and the general direction of the rainwater flow in the colony premises.

The RWA has also taken up several awareness programs to sensitise residents. Residents were taught about the importance of water and the need to conserve it. A 10-point pamphlet in two languages, English and Telugu, was prepared on conservation of water in daily routines. During the summers, these awareness pamphlets were displayed and distributed to the visitors at Chalivendrams (Centres for free supply of water) erected in the colony.

Summary

The JR Nagar RWA has thus followed a three-pronged approach in water conservation and management to partly meet the alarming water crisis:

Rainwater recharging in apartments and individual houses

RWH through pits constructed at eight locations along the roads of the colony

Sensitising residents on the need to conserve water through awareness programmes and distribution of pamphlets giving simple tips of conserving water

In essence, it was demonstrated how an RWA can act as an ambassador to conserve water as well as recharge the water resources in its neighbourhood, thereby protecting the residents from a water crisis. If all

RWAs follow this approach, the water crisis would automatically get reduced and it will be a big step towards environmental sustainability.

About 80 per cent of domestic water from the apartments and houses (of nearly 1,500 residents) is redirected to the recharge pits within the individual premises and not much water is wasted by overflow. Further, the eight RWH pits adjacent to the roads in the colony collect any excess water as well as rainwater. In this way, excess water runoff is controlled in the colony.

Over the last nearly 20 years, the colony has not procured water from outside even once. The colony is self-sufficient in terms of its water requirements. Groundwater can be found at 60-80 feet only in this colony, even in the present state of degrading water resources. It is hoped that the measures taken may help in sustainable water resource management in future.

The JR Nagar RWA received the 'Third Best RWA Award in the country in water conservation and management' under RWAs category of the National Water Awards-2018 by the Union Ministry of Water Resources on February 25, 2019.

(The author is Vice President, APFERWAS, President, JR Nagar RWA and former Emeritus Scientist, NIO. The views expressed are strictly personal)

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