Title - Indian Railway's unique water project for lean seasons

Indian Railways for the first time commissioned a unique 'rain water harvesting system' storing rainwater during monsoon for supplying it to its staff and railway commuters during lean season. The system was commissioned at South Eastern Railway's Bokaro diesel loco shed by general manger A K Verma during his visit here last week. The loco shed here has a huge roof area which can accumulate a large flow of rain water during heavy rain. The rain water will be recycled into the underground water storage and will be used during the dry season, said Mr Verma. With a view to this, two rain water harvesting system projects were sanctioned at a of Rs 56 lakh. The work at Bokaro station area was also in progress and it is expected that this too will be completed within a fortnight. Although Bokaro receives good rainfall, yet the area experiences water crisis due to decreasing water level during the summer and non-monsoon seasons. Every year there is a fall of 3 mm in the ground water level, experts here said. With this unique system, it will bring a huge relief to the residents of railway colony and around 10,000 passengers of Bokaro railway station every day. The idea of re-charging of underground water by rain water harvesting system was envisaged by the general manager in view of water scarcity, especially in summer season in Bokaro and surrounding areas.