The metropolis in coordination with the local committees and the Center for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD) has targeted that at least 150 new homes to be built in the area in this fiscal year will have a system for harvesting rainwater.
Around 50 houses, which are currently under construction in the area, have already designed a harvesting mechanism, said Shivaji Bhattarai, ward secretary of the KMC-15.
Though the KMC has been providing 10 percent concession to those who present a house design that includes a rain water harvesting system, the Kathmandu residents are still unaware of this facility, mentioned Bhattarai. [break]
The locals have also hoped that the ancient wells of Kathmandu Valley that have dried up will see a rise in ground water level by 4-5 feet after locals install rainwater harvesting system, said Ishwar Man Dangol, former chairman of the ward.
According to Anil Sthapit, Director of Guthi, the non-government organization that is working on water, sanitation and hygiene sector, a couple of information desks have been established in Dallu to help people construct recharge zones.
The Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board in 2010 had signed an agreement with the non-government organizations to promote rainwater harvesting in the Valley. Likewise, another contract was finalized last year with the CIUD to generate 500 million liters of rainwater. The government and the NGOs were able to achieve the target within the time, generating 800 million liters of water through rainwater harvesting last fiscal year.
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