A new section aimed at presenting to the student community the ongoing projects in the various Departments in BITS Pilani. We begin this featured series with a
project being undertaken under senior Professor Rajiv Gupta of the Civil Engineering Department.
The Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting for Safe, Potable and Healthy Drinking
Water and Ground Water Replenishment for BITS Pilani, Pilani campus is part
of a grand scheme to bring about a solution to the disturbing water scarcity in various
parts of the state of Rajasthan.
Q1. Sounds good, but how do you plan on recharging the ground water as well
together with collecting rainwater?
The project was started in the year 2003 when the Rajasthan Association of North A: The run-off water from rooftops can be led into the existing well through pipes
America (aka RANA) approached BITS Pilani, Pilani campus to take some steps and a small settling pit to filter the turbidity and other pollutants. In this costtoward alleviating problem of water scarcity in the state. Spearheaded by Professor effective process, we not only conserve the precious rainwater but also help to
Rajiv Gupta of the Civil Engineering Department, faculty and students alike have increase the local ground water table. Even an abandoned well can be used for this
done a lot and are still finding solutions to manifold problems regarding the purpose.
aforementioned. The scheme was initially funded by RANA and later, by the
government of Rajasthan. The first showcase rain water harvesting scheme was Q2. Rajasthan has very low rainfall. Doesn’t that pose a challenge to this entire
implemented here on campus and later, in Raila (where the program is called Akash scheme?
Ganga) and Indrasa (currently under NGOs) which are relatively close places from A: The average annual rainfall is of course, not enough for everyday use, but we
Pilani.
focus only on providing potable water, which is clearly sufficient as far as water from
rains is concerned.
All things said, the EPC was lucky enough to get a hold of Prof. Rajiv Gupta despite
his tight schedule to shed some light on the project.
Q3. What about the sustainability issues with the project, viz., maintenance, funding,
etc.?
A: 15- 30 % of the total cost is covered by the local benefactors in terms of money
and labor. Also, we have been granted plots by local panchayats in Raila and the other
In a nutshell, the scheme implements a series of interconnected tanks (three or four villages, which we are using to grow horticultural farms which bring in revenue and
in number) which collect rainwater and the resulting overflows from preceding tanks which will also cover the almost all costs.
to maximize the water collection for both present and future use. To explain further,
let us take the example of four tanks a,b,c and d.
Q4. What is in this for BITSians?
A: Apart from the obvious, students can learn a lot more about the pressing need for
1. Collect rainwater in tank a (catchment areas): Tank a primarily makes up all judicious water use and its conservation firsthand. A lot of students have come
the rooftop rain water collecting devices or immediate on ground water tanks in the forward with their technical knowhow and have contributed a lot towards making
vicinity.
this project all the more exciting and educational too, if I may add.
2. Overflow goes to tank b which is connected to houses without tank a
(gutters and downspouts): This makes it convenient even for sloping roofed
houses or houses without rooftop harvesting structures to use water. The overflow is
collected in cisterns and storage tanks.
The rainwater harvesting scheme has been implemented in other villages as well and
is progressing by leaps and bounds in the fight against water scarcity in the state.
Needless to say, Prof. Rajiv Gupta has done a lot and is still raring for more such
innovations to bring down, if not eliminate the paucity of the most important natural
resource
3. Overflow from tank b goes to community tanks (say tank c) connected to For the record, people on campus can check out the water harvesting tank located
schools, hospitals, etc.
behind the BITS Library.
4. Finally, we have tank d that collects the extra water and leads it into village wells.
A condolence meet was held on the 25th of October, at 1 PM in the FD-II QT to
mourn the untimely and unfortunate demise of Nelluri Ravi Teja, a student of the
second year in the B.E. (Hons.) Computer Science programme, bearing ID number
2013A7PS147P, on the 22nd of October. Also injured in the same accident was
Raghu Rami Reddy Ballary (2013A3PS315P) who is out of danger and stable. He is
currently hospitalised in Chandigarh.
The aforementioned students were on a trip to Manali in a group of 25, where they
hired a bike to Rohtang Pass. On the return journey, they met with an accident in a
downhill stretch of road while trying to pass the accompanying cab. Medical
assistance was immediately called for. Unfortunately, Ravi Teja passed away before
he was rushed to the hospital. All BITSians in and around Manali flocked to the
scene to offer brave and timely assistance to the stricken souls, before a team from
the campus comprising of Kumar Neeraj Sachdev, Hostel Superintendent, Dug