Under the ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative, IGL, Directorate of Education and Ehsaas NGO have signed MoU for rainwater harvesting project in 75 CM Shree schools. As part of IGL’s CSR initiative, this project will help in raising the groundwater level and strengthening water conservation.
New Delhi [भारत]July 10 (ANI): An important tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), Directorate of Education and Ehsaas NGO under the ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative at the Delhi Secretariat on Friday in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Under the agreement, a rainwater harvesting project will be implemented in 75 CM Shri schools in Delhi. According to a press release issued from the Chief Minister’s Office, the project will be implemented under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of IGL. This includes audit and renovation of existing rainwater harvesting systems on school campuses, as well as installation of new rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. Water conservation and environment awareness programs will also be organized for students and teachers.
The project is expected to recharge approximately two lakh liters of groundwater annually in each school, which will help strengthen water conservation and improve groundwater levels in the capital. Based on the results of this pilot model, the Delhi government plans to expand the rainwater harvesting system to other government schools in Delhi as well as schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in a phased manner.
Water conservation is the foundation of the future: CM Rekha Gupta
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this initiative will give a new direction to water conservation and environmental sustainability in Delhi and will play an important role in making the capital more green and sustainable in the years to come. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that water conservation is not just an environmental necessity but the foundation of a secure future for the coming generations.
He said that Delhi Government is promoting education and environment conservation together and this initiative will be an important step towards promoting sustainable water management in government schools. He said that the government’s aim is to make the government schools of the capital so excellent that in future parents would prefer to enroll their children in them instead of private schools. He said this initiative is an important step towards effectively implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s ‘Catch the Rain’ vision in Delhi and the government has decided to start this effort from schools, the release said.
The Chief Minister said that this initiative will not be limited to just 75 schools. He expressed hope that this model will eventually be extended to about 800 Delhi government schools, thereby helping in promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater conservation on a large scale across the capital. He said the government aims to install rain water harvesting systems in all government schools in Delhi and make them fully functional.
Describing the project as an excellent example of effective partnership between government, industry and social organizations, he said that it will not only strengthen groundwater conservation but will also help in inculcating a sense of responsibility and sensitivity towards water resources among the students.
Implementation and technical details of the project
Under the project, technical audit of existing rain water harvesting systems in selected 75 CM Shree schools will be conducted. The project also includes cleaning and restoration of old water harvesting structures, recharge pits and filtration systems. New rooftop rainwater harvesting systems including pipelines, filters, tanks and borewells will be installed on school campuses, the release said.
Maintenance and technical support will also be provided for one year. Additionally, a modern and cost-effective rooftop rainwater harvesting unit will be constructed in each school, the press release said. The project will be implemented by Ehsaas NGO. The organization will be responsible for ensuring safety standards, construction quality and successful implementation and operation of the project.
The Directorate of Education will provide necessary permissions and administrative support to the school campuses and will take the responsibility of maintaining the systems after completion of the project. IGL will provide financial support for the entire project. The press release further said that the project also includes inspection and renovation of rainwater harvesting infrastructure along with special workshops on water conservation in every school. These workshops will create awareness among students and teachers about water usage, groundwater recharge and environmental sustainability. The project is planned for a period of 12 months, and its progress will be monitored through geo-tagged photographs, utilization certificates and regular evaluation, the release said.
CM Shri School will become special: Education Minister Ashish Sood
Education Minister Ashish Sood said that under the guidance of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, continuous efforts are being made to make CM Shri Schools different from ordinary schools. He said CM Shree Schools will not only be digitally enabled but will also provide students with comprehensive knowledge of modern curriculum in line with the National Education Policy, life sciences and subjects related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the press release said.
He said that the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign is an integral part of this comprehensive approach. Apart from encouraging water conservation and environmental responsibility, this initiative will also inspire students to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. He said that at the beginning of the current academic session, the government had set a target of converting all 1,000 government schools in the capital into zero waste campuses. (ANI)
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