NDMC to Install 139 Eco-Friendly Rainwater Harvesting Pits in Delhi
ECONOMY & POLICY

NDMC to Install 139 Eco-Friendly Rainwater Harvesting Pits in Delhi

To conserve rainwater, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has finalized a plan to construct 139 modular water harvesting pits, with work expected to begin soon. According to NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal, 95 of these pits will be built by the road division, while the remaining 44 will be handled by the building department. He explained that the tendering process for the project has already been completed, and construction can commence shortly. Chahal highlighted that these pits are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, require minimal maintenance, and can be constructed quickly.

Currently, there are 357 rainwater harvesting pits in NDMC areas, with 273 constructed by the road division and 84 by the building department. Chahal noted that some of the existing pits incorporate modular rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. Based on their success, the NDMC decided to replicate the concept. He also mentioned that assistance from the Jal Shakti Ministry might be sought if necessary. The identified locations for these pits are expected to address waterlogging issues while enhancing rainwater conservation.

The proposed sites for the pits include Janpath Road, Ashoka Road, Jaswant Singh Road, Jantar Mantar Road, Hanuman Road Park, Vakil Lane, Balwant Rai Mehta Lane, Copernicus Lane, Bhagwan Das Road, Pandara Park, Subramaniam Bharti Marg, Kaka Nagar, and Bapa Nagar.

The modular system utilizes pre-fabricated polymer-based blocks configured in an interlocked arrangement around a borewell pipe, which is 30–35 meters deep to facilitate efficient water percolation. An official described the system’s operation, stating that it comprises three chambers, all underground except for the covers of the drain and filter chambers.

Rainwater collected from stormwater drains is directed into underground brick masonry manholes. From the manhole, a pipe leads to the second chamber, which serves as a filter unit. This chamber contains a strainer to trap dirt, silt, and solid debris, allowing only filtered water to pass into a steel bucket installed at the bottom. A pipeline connects the filter unit to the third chamber, made of polymer-based blocks arranged in an interlocked position. The entire system is wrapped in geotextile fabric to prevent soil intrusion.

The structure enables rainwater to seep into the borewell pipe through perforations while providing additional water storage capacity. Its design also allows the surface area above to be used for purposes such as vehicle parking.

To conserve rainwater, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has finalized a plan to construct 139 modular water harvesting pits, with work expected to begin soon. According to NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal, 95 of these pits will be built by the road division, while the remaining 44 will be handled by the building department. He explained that the tendering process for the project has already been completed, and construction can commence shortly. Chahal highlighted that these pits are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, require minimal maintenance, and can be constructed quickly. Currently, there are 357 rainwater harvesting pits in NDMC areas, with 273 constructed by the road division and 84 by the building department. Chahal noted that some of the existing pits incorporate modular rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. Based on their success, the NDMC decided to replicate the concept. He also mentioned that assistance from the Jal Shakti Ministry might be sought if necessary. The identified locations for these pits are expected to address waterlogging issues while enhancing rainwater conservation. The proposed sites for the pits include Janpath Road, Ashoka Road, Jaswant Singh Road, Jantar Mantar Road, Hanuman Road Park, Vakil Lane, Balwant Rai Mehta Lane, Copernicus Lane, Bhagwan Das Road, Pandara Park, Subramaniam Bharti Marg, Kaka Nagar, and Bapa Nagar. The modular system utilizes pre-fabricated polymer-based blocks configured in an interlocked arrangement around a borewell pipe, which is 30–35 meters deep to facilitate efficient water percolation. An official described the system’s operation, stating that it comprises three chambers, all underground except for the covers of the drain and filter chambers. Rainwater collected from stormwater drains is directed into underground brick masonry manholes. From the manhole, a pipe leads to the second chamber, which serves as a filter unit. This chamber contains a strainer to trap dirt, silt, and solid debris, allowing only filtered water to pass into a steel bucket installed at the bottom. A pipeline connects the filter unit to the third chamber, made of polymer-based blocks arranged in an interlocked position. The entire system is wrapped in geotextile fabric to prevent soil intrusion. The structure enables rainwater to seep into the borewell pipe through perforations while providing additional water storage capacity. Its design also allows the surface area above to be used for purposes such as vehicle parking.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code