DNA : 18th-century lesson learnt : Sept 9, 2007

an 18th-century lesson learnt
ashwin aghor

students of shriram high school and kirti college on saturday witnessed an
ancient water harvesting system at kanheri caves, now part of the sanjay
gandhi national park. this water harvesting system was developed around
3,000 years ago by the monks who lived in the kanheri caves. the system was
developed on a simple principle by directing water flowing down kanheri
hills into underground tanks with a capacity of 20,000 to 50,000 litres. the
visit to the caves was organised for the 40 scout students and 30 national
social service (nss) students as part of the harvest to harness (h2h)
programme to create environmental awareness among the young generation.
assistant director of mahim nature park avinash kubal, who unfolded the
water harvesting system at kanheri caves said, "since the tanks in which the
water collected was underground it did not come in contact with sunlight and
hence would not get contaminated. as a result, water in the tanks always
remained pure and could be used throughout the year." kubal said that the
rain water harvesting system at kanheri caves has proved highly effective
since ages and could be an effective solution to the present water problem
in the city.

h2h is an initiative by the lotus suites ecotel, rachana sansad institute of
environmental architecture and eureka forbs as a part of its corporate
social responsibility. rishi puri general manager of the lotus suits ecotel
said, "being an ecotel, h2h is one more initiative towards our commitment to
environment. it gives us immense satisfaction that the concept of rain water
harvesting system has been implemented in many buildings in the city."n
avinash kubal explains the nuances of rain water harvesting at the kanheri
caves


Publication : DNA; Section : mumbai; Pg : 7; Date : 9/9/07
URL :
http://digital.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?edorsup=Main&queryed=9&querypage=7&boxid=30779448&parentid=47900&eddate=09/11/2007