Soon, a course in rainwater harvesting

If the acute water crisis during summer months is any indication, the city may soon be in dire need of rainwater harvesting experts. Keeping this concern in mind, Jamia Hamdard University has decided to introduce a course in rainwater harvesting.

The board of studies at the university has said the PG diploma will begin from January 2013. Experts feel that as the demand for decentralized options like rainwater harvesting spikes, an automatic need arises for specialists who can cater to residents' requirements.

"The course recently got a nod from the academic council. Rainwater harvesting is a profession that is soon going to be in demand. Students need expertise in installing rainwater harvesting structures and maintaining them every monsoon. The course will be of a one-year duration and will include theory and practical sessions," said professor Javed Ahmed, head of the botany department at the varsity.

The idea of starting this unique course stemmed from the university's own experience of the water crisis. The campus functions without a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) connection and has been sustaining with the rainwater collected every monsoon.

In the one-year course, students will be taught how to construct various kinds of harvesting structures. They will also have access to laboratory facilities to test the rain and groundwater quality. The course fee adds up to Rs 25,000.

Meanwhile, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which already offers a rainwater harvesting course, has witnessed a spurt in the number of applicants this year. "Every year during the peak summer months people wake up to the water shortage and the demand shoots up. But this year we started getting enquiries much earlier and they were more in number. In fact, we had participants from Bangladesh and Nepal too," said Sushmita Sengupta, deputy programme manager, water unit, CSE.

At CSE, students fulfill multiple roles of architects, contractors and consultants, all pitching in to conserve water. Unlike Jamia Hamdard University, CSE organizes short courses of about a week's duration. The course content involves traditional rainwater harvesting structures, understanding basics of groundwater, hydrogeology, designing, construction process, maintenance and monitoring mechanisms.