THE EXNORA EXPERIENCE
Exnora international, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), is involved mainly in solid-waste management and sorting out rural problems. Recently, however, they have entered the field of rainwater harvesting (RWH), propagating water harvesting methods and offering technical support. The NGO has atso succeeded in motivating the villagers of Kovalam, near Chennai, to restore a pond which was their only water source. They have also de-silted a temple tank at Kosapet, another suburb.
Says M B Nirmal, founder and chairperson of the NGO, "We are interested in using various techniques of rain water harvesting at residential, institutional and community levels." He is planning to propagate the idea of RWH not only in Chennai, but also in other parts of Tamil Nadu. The work, however, is still in the planning stage.
The NGO plans to form "farmers' clubs" and promote wasteland development by rainwater harvesting, building check dams, and percolation ponds. "The farmers will be involved in mapping the natural resources and in identifying the potential for implementing rainwater techniques," says A Thanikachatm.
However, there are hurdles ahead. "Despite awareness, the response in the urban areas is poor," says Ramkumar, who also finds the government's response "lukewarm". "Now that the monsoon is approaching, the metro water board should interact with municipal corporation and seriously consider ways to conserve rain water," he points out.