Metro will extend rainwater harvesting project to Phase 2

 The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) that started its rainwater harvesting (RWH) project on Namma Metro Phase 1 will extend its project to Phase 2 also.

Chief public relations officer of BMRCL U A Vasanth Rao said that at present, the RWH system is in place along the 33.48 km of elevated Metro stretch where two RWH pits are built between two pillars, for every 28 metres.

BMRCL said that each pillar has inbuilt downpipes to collect rainwater from the viaduct and into the underground tanks on the median. "When these tanks get filled, the overflowing rainwater gets diverted towards the 5-metre deep harvesting pits located between the two pillars," Rao said.

He said that under the second phase, around 72 km of elevated stretch will come up. "We have plans to instal RWH system along a 58 km stretch," Rao said.

As a part of social responsibility, BMRCL has taken up the development of Kengeri lake and Veerasandra lake near Electronics City. The officials plan to set up a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Kengeri lake and plan to divert the rain water falling on the elevated road between Nayandahalli-Kengeri  towards the waterbody.

BMRCL has also put up an RWH system at Peenya Metro depot though implementation is yet to happen. "The rain falling on the roof area of 1.9 lakh square feet at the depot will be stored in two rainwater harvesting tanks that have a capacity to store 50,000 litres of water. This water would be used and the rest of it will be sent to the ground for recharge," said Vasanth Rao.

World Water day on Wednesday

The theme of this year's 'World Water day 2017' is 'waste water'. An slew of programmes is being held across the city by government bodies and private organisations. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board will hold an awareness rally 'Save water, Save Bengaluru', at Vidhana Soudha starting at 8.30 am which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to flag off.