The Hindu          22.03.2011

BWSSB's theme park has a message on rainwater harvesting

Unique: A view of the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Centre theme park which was inaugurated in Bangalore on Monday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

To popularise rainwater harvesting and also train citizens on how to go about it, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board's (BWSSB) Sir M. Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme park was inaugurated on Monday.

Home Minister R. Ashok, who inaugurated the park, warned people if they did not conserve water now, the drinking water shortage might reach never-before heights in the days to come.

‘Use judiciously'

“Every drop is precious considering that Cauvery water is being pumped from a distance of 120 km from Shivanasamudra to the city. Water has to be used judiciously,” he said.

Although the State Government has made rainwater harvesting mandatory, only 24,000 of the 56,000 targeted households in the city have adopted it so far.

The theme park has 27 demonstrations on rainwater harvesting, numerous models that explain the usage and importance of water in all its forms with a special focus on water conservation. Impressed by the park, Mr. Ashok suggested that BWSSB should set up another such park in Banashankari. He would get five acres of land allotted there (as Banashankari is represented by him).

First in country

Developed on a two-acre land in Jayanagar 5 {+t} {+h} Block at a cost of Rs. 3 crore, the theme park is the first of its kind in the country, BWSSB Chairperson P.B. Ramamurthy said.

Although designed to propagate rainwater harvesting and also create more awareness about water conservation, the park also showcases the history, origin and growth of BWSSB. Models that show how Cauvery water reaches our homes through three pumping stations and how the city's waste water is treated at the BWSSB”S sewerage treatment plants are also on display.

The guests watched a documentary on water conservation at the information centre in the park named “Tuntaru” (the first showers of rain). A street play by theatre personality A.S. Murthy was staged on the occasion.

Mayor S K Nataraj, BJP National General Secretary Ananth Kumar and Jayanagar MLA B N Vijaykumar also spoke. Top BWSSB officials were present.