CSE-designed rainwater harvesting projects win awards

New Delhi, Feb 3 (UNI) Model rainwater harvesting projects designed by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has bagged several awards in the Bhagidari Utsav-2007.

Six of the nine Chief Minister's Best Rain Harvester Awards (2006) were won by CSE's model projects.

The awards were given away by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at a special ceremony organised by the Delhi Jal Board as a part of festival yesterday.

In the institutional category, the Jamia Hamdard University won the first prize of Rs 2 lakh, while the second prize of Rs 1 lakh was bagged by the Janki Devi Memorial College -- both CSE's model rainwater harvesting projects.

In the individual category, Ruchi Singhal won the second prize for implementing a rainwater harvesting system (designed by CSE) at her residence. Madhu Bhatnagar of Shriram School, Vasant Vihar, won a Rs 1 lakh special award for her initiatives in implementing and popularising rainwater harvesting in her school with CSE's guidance.

Besides these, two of the four special commendations also went to CSE's projects.

CSE has been actively involved in spreading awareness about community-based rainwater harvesting techniques, and has designed and helped initiate several rain harvesting projects in the capital.

It has identified 21 model projects from among those designed by it.

These model projects have been constructed by citizens who sought CSE's help to set up RWH structures, either in their homes, colonies or the institutions they worked in.

The Chief Minister's Best Rain Harvester Award were instituted in 2006 with the aim of promoting rainwater harvesting. Forty-eight nominations were considered for these awards.

At the festival, Coca-Cola India also showcased a range of initiatives to increase awareness on water conservation and environment sustenance.

The Company introduced the 'Drip Gauge' - a device to sensitize citizens to save every drop of water. The Company plans to disseminate the device to thousands of stakeholders to spread awareness on water.

UNI