Sunday, May 9, 2010

Overflowing tanks: VK puts lid

NEW DELHI: Residents of Vasant Kunj and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will launch a unique initiative on Saturday to stop wastage of water.

Four volunteers — called jal rakshaks — from each pocket will point out overflowing water tanks to the residents responsible for it. After three warnings, which will include offers of help with phone numbers of plumbers who can fix the problem, the jal rakshaks will forward a complaint to DJB, which will then initiate punitive action.

Vasant Kunj has around 19,000 flats and a colony-run project of this kind, it is estimated, will end up saving around 1 lakh kilolitres of water every day. The project has been conceived by FORCE, an NGO working for water conservation, with DJB as a partner. Jyoti Sharma, FORCE president, said they had used jal rakshaks before but the process had never been very formal. ''Now it will be. Our primary aim is to make Vasant Kunj a 'water-wise' colony. When the model becomes a success, hopefully in the next six months, DJB will use it in other colonies,'' said Sharma.

The project will also involve members of the local branch of Innerwheel Club, an organization linked to Rotary International. ''Each jal rakshak team will include a member of the club. They will rope in children from each pocket,'' Sharma said. ''These children will perform street plays to spread the message.” 
 
Last year, the pocket B-1 RWA had started a programme called Water Warriors, in which colony children went about doing what the jal rakshaks will do.

Vasant Kunj has 30 residential pockets and the colony has been in the news ever since people moved in because of scarcity of water. The situation though has improved somewhat since Vasant Kunj started getting water from Sonia Vihar. However, even as people from other less privileged areas like the colony of Sangam Vihar hold demonstrations for water, many residents here have been oblivious to overflowing of their tanks. 
 
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With thanks : source : Times of India

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