Rainwater harvesting system at Siddhivinayak temple

As the city reels under water scarcity and frequent water cuts, the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple at Prabhdevi has taken a step towards water conservation.

As the city reels under water scarcity and frequent water cuts, the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple at Prabhdevi has taken a step towards water conservation.

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Setting up rainwater harvesting system, the temple hopes to soon have access to around 2.75 million litres of rainwater every year for most of the secondary activities such as washing and gardening.

On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhujbal inaugurated the project, which the temple authorities claimed is a first such-initiative in a temple premises in Mumbai.

A well at the back of the temple compound will collect rainwater from the rooftop of a newly constructed building via two connected storm water drains covering an area of 1643 sq metres.

The water will be filtered before it reaches the well.

With thousands of devotees visiting the temple everyday, the initiative aims to inculcate the importance of preserving water and using it with care. “It may be a small project, but it is important in a city like Mumbai where the demand for water is increasing with so many new buildings and new businesses,” said Bhujbal.

Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple Trust Committee collaborated with the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. (HCCBPL) for the project, which was implemented by the non-government oragnisation, Members of Brotherhood (MOB).

“While it’s mandatory for new buildings to harvest rainwater, we hope devotees living in old buildings carry home the message of rain water harvesting and contribute towards the cause of environment sustainability,” said Subhash Mayekar, chairman of the temple trust.

“This project is a small step towards spreading awareness on the importance of rain water harvesting among Mumbaikars,” said Milind Pingle, region vice president, HCCBPL. Till date HCCBPL has set up similar projects at the Oval Maidan, Matunga’s Ruparel College, Thane Municipal Corporation and Pune-based Wadia College.