Benefits of rainwater harvesting are immense as it offers an ideal solution to problems in areas having inadequate water resources, raises the ground water level, mitigates the effects of droughts, reduces soil erosion and appreciably improves the quality of water.

Sadly though, such a vital component of our development has been missing from the agenda of the Government for the last fifty years. Says, Pawan Gupta, of Everything About Water, an NGO working in the field of rainwater harvesting, " Rain water is the most neglected issue for the Government which remains oblivious to its benefits. Nearly 60 percent of rain water flows down the drain, whereas it can be productively utilised".

Another study by INTACH concluded that storage of only one percent of the total rainfall that falls all over the country in the three monsoon months was sufficient for meeting all domestic requirements of water. Besides, domestic requirements, stored water can be drawn upon to irrigate lands, operate factories and developed into tourist and recreational destinations with modern facilities. Says, Eklavya Prasad, " In a country where over a crore of people suffer from drought, rain water harvesting will go a long way in making things drought proof".

Recently, INTACH submitted a few proposals to the government for effectively harnessing rainwater. One such proposal was the Shimla Airport project where the entire water requirements of the airport could be taken care off by building small reservoirs at the end of the runway. A similar project has been highly successful in Frankfurt, Germany.

Says, Himanshu Grover, " Intach proposals are very scientifically designed and if implemented in letter-and-spirit, would go a long way in resolving the annual summer crisis."

Contrary to popular perception, rainwater harvesting is not an expensive proposition. Cost of constructing rooftop harvesting on a house 250 sq. metres. is just around Rs. 20,000.

" The mindset of people to this viable alternative has to be changed. It is only through rainwater harvesting and not big dams and multi-purpose projects that the water problem can be addressed. People must be persuaded to voluntarily earmark at least 25 percent of land in any town or city for rain water harvesting", says Grover.

The role of NGOs and other voluntary bodies has been very heartening. Success of organisations like Tarun Bharat Sangh in Rajasthan and of people like Hardeo Jadeja in Rajkot is a pointer that small initiatives can go a long way in solving water scarcity.

In Chennai, the M.S. Swaminathan Foundation not only harvests rainwater, it recycles the waste water into the channels and allows it to seep through the ground with natural water filter material, making it pure for drinking purposes. This initiative prompted the local body to issue instructions to all new constructions in the area to follow suit.

Having witnessed the success of some of these small experiments, of late there has been some initiative by the central Government and local bodies to promote the technology. Municipal Corporations in major cities like, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, are taking keen interest in the project. Delhi Jal Board has issued a special book that flags out the advantages of rainwater harvesting. In Hyderabad too, its importance is being disseminated through the Neeru Meeru (Water and You) project of the government.

With Israel serving as a beacon, which converted its large tracts of arid land into cultivable agricultural areas through water harvesting, its high time the government woke up to this cost-effective proposition, or else the day will not be far when even a glass of water will command the price of gold in the market.