The Delhi government has started a major rainwater harvesting initiative to improve water conservation in Delhi. The project will first cover 75 CM Shri Schools and may later be extended to around 800 Delhi government schools, along with schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The expansion will depend on the results of the first phase.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative is an important step towards making Delhi greener and more sustainable. She added that saving water is not only an environmental need but also necessary to ensure a secure future for the coming generations.
MoU signed at the Delhi secretariat
The project officially began on Friday,10th of July with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Delhi Secretariat. The agreement was signed under the Centre’s ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The MoU was signed between Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), the Directorate of Education, and Ehsaas NGO. The project will be carried out through IGL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
What the project includes
As part of the initiative, all 75 selected schools will undergo an audit of their existing rainwater harvesting systems. Any old or non-functional systems will be repaired and restored. Schools that do not have such facilities will get new rooftop rainwater harvesting systems installed.
The project also focuses on creating awareness among students and teachers. Special programmes on water conservation and environmental protection will be organised so that young people understand the importance of saving water and protecting natural resources.
Groundwater recharge is expected to improve
According to the Delhi government, each participating school is expected to help recharge nearly two lakh litres of groundwater every year through the new rainwater harvesting systems. This is expected to support water conservation efforts and improve groundwater levels in different parts of the city.
Officials believe that increasing groundwater recharge through schools can make a meaningful contribution to tackling Delhi’s long-term water challenges while encouraging sustainable use of water resources.
Education and environment go hand in hand
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Delhi government is working to promote education and environmental conservation together. She said schools are the best place to begin such initiatives because they help build awareness among children from an early age.
Gupta said the project reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision behind the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign. She added that by introducing rainwater harvesting in schools, students will not only learn about water conservation in classrooms but will also see these efforts being implemented on their own campuses.
A step towards a greener Delhi
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the project would give a fresh push to water conservation efforts in Delhi. She said the initiative would strengthen environmental sustainability while helping create a cleaner and greener capital.
If the first phase delivers positive results, the government plans to expand the programme in stages to more Delhi government schools and MCD schools. The larger goal is to make rainwater harvesting a regular feature in educational institutions across the city and encourage wider groundwater conservation for the future.
