Trying to make amends for concretising every available surface, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is emphasising groundwater levels through recharge shafts. The same is being rolled out in Phase IV of cement road projects in the city. Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari on Wednesday inspected the first such shaft laid in the Khamla-Sneh Nagar area. The idea is to collect the rainwater and direct its flow through slants in road to the recharge shaft. This way the underground water level would increase as the shaft would recharge the aquifer. These days, due to rapid urbanisation, pressure is increasing on land and extraction of groundwater is also increasing rapidly. For example, earlier in one independent house four to five people used to reside and now post redevelopment, high-rises have come up, and this has raised the population density in same area.

 

Now, the demand for fresh water has increased manifold, and at each of the high rise, borewells are dug-up deep. Hence, NMC has come-up with idea of using recharge shafts to tap the rainwater, which otherwise through storm water drains goes into the adjoining nullahs. So instead of wasting the fresh water, same is being diverted into the ground to help recharge the aquifers. A 20 meter pit is dug-up in the ground to hold the rain water that then penetrates through porous underground layers. In Phase-IV, NMC is going to concretise 23.45 kms of road on 33 stretches. Altogether, these roads will have 147 recharge shafts. The shafts will be cover with iron grills and from time to time the tree leave and other litter that is carried with water will be cleared to provide free flow for draining water.

 

The contractor engaged in drilling recharge shafts has been entrusted maintenance period of 10-year along with the newly constructed cement road. Manoj Talewar, Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, NMC, explained the working of recharge shafts to Municipal Commissioner. NMC has decided to observe the draining of water in the shaft for a one-month period, and if the plan works, then at other points also it is going to be replicated. In case some modification is needed, the same would also be done, informed Chief Engineer Leena Updhaye. Executive Engineer Ravindra Bundhade, Deputy Engineer Shashank Tatewar, Junior Engineer Purshottam Pande and Mgmt Consultant Nilesh Ugemuge were also present during Commissioner’s visit.