NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal Explores Surat's Rainwater Harvesting Initiatives
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Synopsis
NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal led a team to Surat to observe innovative rainwater harvesting and water conservation strategies. The visit aimed to enhance NDMC's efforts in achieving zero water logging and improving groundwater levels in New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
- Surat's rainwater harvesting practices are exemplary.
- NDMC plans to upgrade its ICCC using Surat's model.
- Focus on zero water logging in New Delhi.
- Emphasis on efficient flood management techniques.
- Surat's Bio-Diversity Park showcases the 'waste to wealth' concept.
New Delhi, April 5 (NationPress) In pursuit of acquiring direct knowledge about innovative rainwater harvesting, flood management, and water conservation techniques, a delegation headed by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal journeyed to Surat, as reported by an official on Saturday.
During the visit, Chahal conferred with Union Minister C.R. Patil and updated him on NDMC’s current initiatives in New Delhi, which include the revitalization of 272 rainwater harvesting pits and the establishment of 101 new ones.
He underscored that these initiatives are aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve zero water logging in NDMC regions and significantly enhance the city’s groundwater levels.
The Surat visit was strategically timed close to an NDMC presentation made last month to the Union Minister, detailing plans for waterlogging prevention and improvements to the drainage system in NDMC territory.
“In light of the discussions from that meeting, the Surat study trip was arranged to observe and learn from one of the most effective urban water management frameworks in the nation,” noted an official.
Chahal, while discussing Surat’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), mentioned that the centre commenced operations in 2016 under the Smart City Mission to enhance inter-departmental collaboration and elevate the quality of civic services.
This cutting-edge facility consolidates data from over 30 municipal services – such as BRTS, traffic control, emergency response, CCTV monitoring, streetlight supervision, and grievance resolution – into a single, cohesive platform, he explained.
Chahal stated that the existing ICCC of NDMC lacks several integrated services that are successfully operational in Surat, emphasizing the necessity to upgrade it by adopting the Surat model.
He mentioned that the NDMC team visited the Tertiary Treatment Plant at Bamroli and the Groundwater Recharge System located at the Bio-Diversity Park.
“The Bio-Diversity Park, established on a former waste disposal site, stands as a prime illustration of the ‘waste to wealth’ principle under the Smart Cities Mission,” Chahal added.
