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Ahmad Ali Khan
Ahmad Ali Khan, executive engineer at Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, is a thorough professional eager to experiment with innovative technologies. He has played a key role in developing, implementing and sustaining the largest and most diverse rainwater harvesting project that CSE has designed in the Capital. Under Ali's constant vigil, Jamia harnesses rainwater from roof-tops, surface and adjoining forest areas in its camps that is spread over an area of 100 acres. To promote efficient water management strategies, Ali has also initiated water conservation measures such as grey water recycling for gardening purposes, and a strict tapwater-usage regulating system for the buildings in the institute. He acknowledges that this immense work would not have been possible without the support and inspiration by Siraj Hussain, Vice Chancellor of the university.

Water Harvesting System in Jamia Hamdard University

For details:

Ahmed Ali Khan,
Executive Engineer,
Engineering Department,
Jamia Hamdard University,
New Delhi.
Phone: (011) 26059672/87/88 Extn: 5370 (office), 5371 (res)


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Anil Agarwal
Anil Kumar Agarwal, the founder of the Centre for Science and Environment, spearheaded the Jal Swaraj campaign. His thoughts, ideas and opinions remain the driving force behind the movement. Agarwal conceptualised and edited the CSE publications Dying Wisdom - which explores the tremendous potential of India's traditional water harvesting systems - and Making Water Everybody's Business - which documents water harvesting technologies that are being practiced even today by communities in various parts of the country. These two widely-read books have gone a long way in putting the issue of community-based water management on the national agenda.

Agarwal, who passed away on January 2, 2002, graduated from one of India's leading engineering colleges in 1970, but gave up a promising technical career to become a science journalist so he could explore the country's scientific and technological needs. He joined Delhi's leading English daily The Hindustan Times as a science correspondent in 1973 and soon discovered India's most evocative environmental movement - Chipko - in 1974. The reportage of this movement not only led to a nationwide interest in environmental conservation, it also brought home to Agarwal the importance that the environment and its natural resource base hold for the local village economy and for meeting the daily needs of villagers in terms of water, firewood, fodder, manure, building materials and medicinal herbs. This was still a time when the leadership of the developing world believed that economic development must take precedence over environmental conservation. But this understanding of the relationship between the poor and their environment soon turned Agarwal into a lifelong environmentalist and a renowned environmental analyst and writer.

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Aruna Ludra
Aruna Ludra's association with CSE began while she was working with Janki Devi Memorial College, New Delhi, as a reader in English. She has now retired, but the institution still remembers her as the pioneer who transformed the terrain of the campus, which is situated in a rocky area. It all started when, on one particular year, the students and the faculty faced a severe water shortage. It was then that Ludra decided to explore the technology of rainwater harvesting. She approached CSE for guidance and initially even financed the project herself. The college authorities were impressed and eventually came forward to support this determined water warrior. Ludra is currently teaching gardening at the All India Kitchen Gardeners' Association.

Water Harvesting System at Janki Devi Memorial College


For details:

Aruna Ludra,
Retired English Lecturer,
C-3, Janki Devi Memorial College,
Sri Ganga Ram Hospital Marg,
Old Rajender Nagar,
New Delhi.
Phone: (011) 25741858, 25786720, (mobile) 9810840158


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Atul Bhalla
Atul Bhalla teaches art at the Mira Model School, Janakpuri, New Delhi. He also grooms students into responsible, environmentally-conscious citizens. Bhalla approached CSE for technical guidance for setting up a rainwater harvesting system in the school campus, which covers an area of 16,000 sq.m. He personally supervised the project and was involved in every phase of construction. Although the rainwater harvesting system is now operational in Mira Model School, Bhalla's vigil is far form over. He believes that while artificial recharging through rainwater harvesting is essential to sustain the groundwater level, the key to good management lies in minimising use and preventing wastage. Among the many other significant measures, he has refurbished and modernised the tapwater network in the school building. Bhalla's efforts have earned many accolades for the school, including an ISO 14001-1996 and ISO 9000-2000 accredition for being the best environmentally managed institution in the capital.

Water Harvesting System at Mira Model School

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Krishan Saigal
Dr Krishan Saigal is a retired IAS officer, whose tryst with the concept of rainwater harvesting began when he was heading an international NGO promoting sustainable development of oceans and coastal areas. He initiated a number of roof-top rainwater harvesting projects in Dalit villages in Tamil Nadu. Since then, Dr Saigal, who now heads the Panchsheel Cooperative House Building Society Limited, has become a die-hard proponent of rainwater harvesting. He successfuly convinced the members of the Managing Committee of the Society to implement the system in the South Delhi colony of Panchsheel. Panchsheel Park was in fact the first residential colony in New Delhi to adopt rainwater harvesting. Saigal and his team completed the task on their own, with technical guidance from CSE. Now Panchsheel Park is often projected by the Delhi state government as a 'model residential area'. Saigal's enthusiasm and zeal ensures that the colony is always in the limelight. For the right reasons, of course.


Water Harvesting System at Panchsheel Park

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Madhu Bhatnagar
Head of Environment and Value Education at the Shri Ram School in Vasant Vihar, Delhi, Madhu Bhatnagar is spearheading the campaign for better environment by mobilising students. "Catch 'em young" is her motto - empowering students to spread awareness among the families and society. "The most intractable environmental problem marches towards a solution when people get involved," she says. After joining the Shri Ram School, Bhatnagar started an environmental club known as The Green Brigade. Through this club, the school has been on the forefront of various campaigns like the anti-plastic drive, anti-cracker drive, fighting for banning the use of mongoose hair for paintbrushes, and promoting rainwater harvesting.

Under her leadership, the school has implemented a rainwater harvesting system in the complex. The rooftop water is diverted through drainpipes to a recharge borewell after it passes through a filtration-cum-buffer tank, which was made at a cost of Rs 1,30,000. The work was completed in May 2000, and is yielding rich dividends. Already by 2002, the groundwater table had increased by almost four metres. The quality of water has also shown considerable improvement. The school has now plans to assist rainwater harvesting projects in other municipal schools. They have also sought permission from the Delhi Development Authority for a rainwater harvesting project in the Ridge area, just behind the school.

Water Harvesting System at Shri Ram School

For details:

Madhu Bhatnagar,
Deputy Head,
The Shri Ram School,
D 3 Street, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi 110 057

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Subhash Sharma
Subhash Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Tihar Jail, has played a key role in setting up a rainwater harvesting project in one of the largest prisons of the world, covering an area of 400 acres. Sharma's contribution goes beyond the mere setting up of physical structures. He motivated the prisoners to participate in the construction work. This not only generated a sense of ownership among them, it also enabled prison authorities to complete the project at a much lower cost than initially estimated.

Water Harvesting System in Tihar Jail

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P L Bhola
P L Bhola, Vice Principal, Mother's International School, New Delhi, lives in the institution's vast Ashram complex. He was the first to raise alarm bells about the dipping groundwater levels of South Delhi. He declared that it was absolutely imperative to take steps to combat the emerging water crisis. His resolve is reflected in the rainwater harvesting system installed in the 27 acre school campus. Bhola has certainly been the driving force behind the project that has been completed recently.

Water Harvesting System in
Sri Aurobindo Ashram


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Brigadier Ravikant
Brigadier Arun Kumar Ravikant (Retd.) is chief general manager, Garden Estate, Gurgaon, an up-market residential complex spread over 22 acres. The brigadier, supported by the Residents' Management Committee, has initiated a strict regimen in a bid to curtail wastage of water and power. The result has been extraordinary. While the water consumption level in Garden Estate has dropped by an impressive 55 per cent, the energy consumption level too has fallen by a striking 25-30 per cent.

Water Harvesting System in Garden Estate

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Ramesh Arora
Ramesh Arora, chief engineer, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, was seriously concerned about the fast depleting groundwater table in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. In a bid to find a solution to this problem, he attended a miscellaneous services session organised by CSE. He decided that rainwater harvesting was the only sustainable way to bring relief. Subsequently, with the help of CSE professionals, he developed detailed designs of rainwater harvesting structures, and built it in the hospital premises covering an area of 11.04 acres.

Water harvesting system in Indian Spinal Injuries Centre

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Vijay Toley
Vijay Toley, Executive Director of Tex Corp Limited, Gurgaon, Haryana, created history when he set up a rainwater harvesting system in the company's 4,000 sq m office premises with assistance from CSE. No other factory in the congested Gurgaon industrial area had achieved this till then. Many have followed since. Toley's contribution in salvaging the fast-depleting groundwater reserves in this region is, therefore, significant.

Water harvesting system in Tex Corp
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