Push for rainwater harvesting: SDMC to set up three more 'Jal Shakti' parks

New Delhi: South Delhi Municipal Corporation is making special efforts to conserve water and harvest rainwater. The civic agency inaugurated its first Jal Shakti Park in Dwarka's Sector-8 last year and has identified 3 more parks to develop them as Jal Shakti Park.

SDMC has identified locations for development as a Jal Shakti Park — "Rain Water Harvesting Park" are pond near Bagdola (Jahaz Wala Park /Waterbody) in Bagdola Village Sector-8 Dwarka, Ward No. 47-S in Najafgarh Zone, pond near Gokul Garden Sector-7, Ward number 54-S Dwarka (Palam) in Najafgarh Zone and pond at Jonapur (Kholi Talab Park Bheem Basti) in South Zone. SDMC is developing these parks in order to collect rain water and to increase levels of groundwater. Small size artificial ponds will be made at these parks where rain water will be collected. Besides this, swings, gazebo huts, walking tracks will be made available for children in these parks. To increase green cover area, trees and plants will also be planted at these parks.

SDMC Mayor Mukesh Suryan said that in order to ensure water conservation, the SDMC has installed 20 Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) with a capacity of 50 kilo litres of water per day at 16 locations in all four zones. The civic agency has incurred a total of Rs 7 crore for setting up these STPs. Water bodies have been revived at 5 of these places. With the help of these STPs, water supply is being ensured for trees and plants inside the parks. With this, a total of 1,000 milliliters of untreated water is being treated every day and is being used at SDMC parks for irrigation purposes. He said that our emphasis is to set up more and more STPs so irrigation of parks could be ensured and further it could help in closing tubewells at parks.