50-Day Rainwater Drive Launched

Hyderabad: The HMWS&SB is set to launch a 50-day campaign called Jalayagna to promote the construction of rainwater harvesting pits. This initiative aims to enhance groundwater recharge by allowing rainwater to percolate naturally. The drive is part of the ongoing 90-day “Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RWS) at Every Home” programme.

Starting next week and continuing until September 30, the board will implement four types of groundwater recharge systems across the city. HMWS&SB managing director K. Ashok Reddy has instructed officials to ensure strict implementation and mandated daily updates through a geo-tagging-enabled mobile app.

Under the programme, every residential plot measuring 300 square metres or more must have a rainwater harvesting structure. The board identified premises with water connection (CAN) numbers where bookings exceed 20 tankers per month, regardless of the season.

Out of 42,784 CAN numbers surveyed — including 40,209 residential premises — only 22,825 currently have rainwater harvesting systems in place. Notices have been issued to 16,196 households to comply with the mandatory installation. For homes with a single borewell, residents are advised to drill a new injection borewell up to 60 metres (200 feet) deep to facilitate groundwater recharge.

In addition, the board plans to install approximately 16,000 rainwater harvesting structures in public spaces such as open grounds, colonies, government offices, educational institutions, and along roads to capture rooftop rainwater. Unused borewells will also be converted into injection borewells to maximize groundwater replenishment.