PANAJI
Put together, these two facts clearly indicate that it is high time that the state government creates adequate infrastructure for rainwater harvesting in all industrial estates.
Damodar Kochkar, MD, Ultratech Automative said, “At Verna Industrial Estate, Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) undertook rainwater harvesting in 2013-14, but nothing happened in the subsequent years in this regard. In 2013-14, a study was carried out on the water flow, drilling was undertaken, barricades were set up and rainwater harvesting finally began. And as a result, even the water table showed improvement. We have to make use of rainwater harvesting as water can easily be stored during monsoons.”
The situation isn’t much different in other industrial estates too, as little or no efforts have been made by the government towards rainwater harvesting, due to which heavy rainfall goes to waste.
Praveen Blaggon, president, Honda Industrial Estate, said, “We receive around 120 inches of rainfall every year in Goa. But, most of it ends up draining in the sea through the rivers, as rainwater harvesting is not carried out. Rainwater harvesting should me made compulsory in industrial estates because Goa sees shortage of water in the months of March, April and May every year.”
Industrialists also pointed out that rainwater harvesting will not only be beneficial for industries, but will also prove vital for the overall Goan society, as everyone will reap the fruits of improvement in the water table.
Sources also revealed that a few pharmaceutical companies in industrial estates have taken up rainwater harvesting in their plants. However, it will make a lot more sense if the state government creates adequate facility so that rainwater harvesting can be done in the entire industrial estate.
Darshan Vani, owner Vaibhav Times in Mapusa Industrial Estate, said, “Our industrial estate is situated on a hill, due to which, it is very difficult for us to collect water during rains. All the water flows downhill, and thus goes to waste. This can be prevented if a mechanism for rainwater harvesting is put in place, which according to me is essential.”
Mapusa Industrial Estate is not an isolated case, as industrial areas are mostly located at a higher level across the state, thus making it very difficult to collect rainwater.
