Port Blair, March 11: Port Blair Municipal Council has launched the Blue Pipe Project for urban rainwater harvesting. It is a novel community based Rainwater Harvesting initiative which utilizes existing building roofs and existing ring wells to recharge ground water. It is to mention that Port Blair witnesses over 2200 mm of rainfall every year but it is also plagued by acute water shortages due to paucity of high quality fresh water sources in the area.

In this project the neighborhood roof tops are connected to the nearby community wells in the area so that rainwater flows directly into the well instead of the drain. This water recharges the ground water table by slowly seeping into the ground from well. This also allows the citizens with older buildings to participate in rainwater harvesting.

PBMC’s Artists have also painted the well and its surroundings with slogans under Blue Pipe Project to spread awareness on rain water harvesting. Currently, 9 community wells in various places of municipal area have been completed under Blue Pipe Project.

PBMC has also appealed to the citizen of Port Blair to participate in water conservation, rain water harvesting, ensuring cleanliness of wells. The people of Sisty nagar has understood this project and taken it seriously and also participated in water conservation and rain water harvesting by providing rain water harvesting system in Kali Mandir/Temple at Sisty nagar. PBMC appreciates such participation of public and hopes to see many other general public to come forward and participate in the project by providing rain water harvesting system in their buildings.