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.

Rare species in CBSE schools

In a renewed effort, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has recently requested all its affiliated schools to surrender any preserved museum specimen of plants and animals that are rare and threatened (as per the Wildlife Protection Act 1972) to the ministry of environment and forest department.

According to Vineet Joshi, chairman, CBSE, activists had noticed the presence of wild animals and birds that were kept in captivity in some schools during their visits to schools recently. Following which, a committee of experts met at the CBSE office and unanimously agreed to follow the Wildlife Protection Act and sensitise students towards care and protection of biodiversity.

"The CBSE had issued a circular on November 9, 2010, wherein the board had asked all its affiliated schools to surrender any rare and endangered species to the ministry of environment and forest department. But, since some endangered species have still been noticed by activists during visits to the schools, we have written to the principals to ensure that no endangered species of plants and wild animals, including birds and insects, are kept in captivity and used for classroom/laboratory study," says Joshi.

Since the board does not have a list of schools, which have been keeping these rare species in their laboratories, all CBSE affiliated schools, whether government or private, have been warned with a notice.

"It is possible that the school authorities are not always aware whether the specimens fall under endangered or rare category. Hence, it is essential that both students and teachers are educated and sensitised," he adds.

Joshi believes that in the age of information and computer technology, students can do without practical dissections. Instead, virtual specimens can be used for studying plant and animal diversity.