Cement, Energy and Environment

high time that measures are needed to replenish ~ur fre~hwater sources. India receives precipitation (including snowfall and rain) of around 4000 billion m3 out of this only 1869 billion m3 is accessible water of which India uses barely one third of it. Nearly 1179 billion m3 goes waste in to the sea (Parghane, R. K. , et al., 2006). If this uncontrolled flow of water is augmented and used for ground water recharging will solve part of the water crises. Availability and utilization of water in India is depicted in Table 2. At this juncture, rain water harvesting is the most prudent and eco-friendly technology which should be popularised. Many countries in particular African nation and European countries this system is being adopted. In India also importance of rain water harvesting has been understood and is being followed. This system is of more use in place where rain is very scanty and every drop needs to be harvested. Table 2. Availability of water in India Sr. Item Quantity No Billion m 3 1. Annual Precipitation Volume 4000 (Including Snowfall) Average Annual Potential flow 1869 in rivers 2. Per capita water availability 1967 (1997) 3. Estimated Utilizable water resource 122 4. i. Surface water resource 690 ii. Ground water resource 432 Source: Parghane, R. K., eta/., 2006 Rain water harvesting at two hydrogeologicaly different places in Chennai city has been studied and the report says that water quality and ground water recharging improved (Jembamalar, A. and Ravikumar, G., 2011 ). Impact of RWH on ground water quality of Indore and Dewas city has been reported way back in 2004 (Khare , D. , et al., 2004). An amount of 80,000 litre of water was collected by rainwater harvesting of Nagpur city and ground water level was improve by 1m. Moreover pollution level also indicated reduction (Sharma, S.K., and Jain S.K., 1997) Many scientist have reported and confirmed that rain water harvesting is a feasible technique and is more over cost effective and eco-friendly in nature (Sharma, S.K., 2002), (Tiwari, R. N. and Pandey, D.S., 1998), (Curti s L. C., 1998). Rain water harvesting is the most sustainable technique to improve our ground water tables. Rainwater can provide clean , safe and potable water for drinking purpose provided it is properly collected and stored without any pollution. Rain water harvesting means collection of rain water in a scientific manner and store it without pollution. Rain water harvesting for drinking purpose has also been studied (Balsubramanyam, N., 2006). Gradually rain water harvesting system has picked up momentum in arid dry region of world including African nations and every drop of water is being conserved and wastage of precious water resource. General and simple rain water harvesting systems application and use is reported in literature (Amos Kabo Bah et al. , 2008, Meharabadi, M.H.R., et al., 2013) Domestic rain water harvesting has been advocated to improve water supply in rural South Africa (Jean. Marc, M.K., et al. , 2007). Recently rainwater harvesting and its related activities are being followed in many countries. Where water supply for both urban and rural area is supplied using this technology (Kossa, R. and Rajuba, M. , 2005). Prevailing water scenario in Durg District Average rainfall in this area is around 1050 mm (IMD 2012) which is very normal but major quantity is wasted through surface runoff. Meagre volume percolates through the soil. In this Durg district many rain water harvesting projects have been successfully implemented. Important once are the Gujra sub water shed (in Patan, Durg district). Rain water harvesting project under joint forest management water conservation measures by AFPFO, Raipur (Ministry of water resources, 2011 ). It clearly indicates that rain water harvesting potential of this district is very efficient. Based on the above information, it was envisaged by the JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd. industry at Ahiwara in Durg district of Chhattisgarh state, to implement rainwater harvesting system to improve the ground water level. Maximum population of the surrounding villages near the JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd. dependent on ground water for all their day to day survival and agriculture. Because of this dependence on ground water has lead to the lowering of the water table to level of 26 m (during pre monsoon season). To enhance ground water level, JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd has taken an initiative to implement rainwater harvesting technology. A rain water harvesting system developed and designed by Furaat Earth Pvt. Ltd . and conventional rainwater harvesting systems have been set up to study the comparative I -