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The second option for effective water management is to harvest the rain water. If we assume Chennai to be a circular city with 20 kms radius and the average rainfall in this city to be 70 cms per year, with 100% effective harvesting of rain water, we can recharge the ground to the tune of around 850 million cubic meters of water every year. If we assume even 50% rain water harvesting as some water would go to see, still we can recharge the ground to the tune of 400 million cubic meters. If we consider the average need for a person in Chennai per day is 100 litres, the water requirement for Chennai per year would not be more than 250 million cubic meters. There may be additional need for industrial houses, agriculture, poultry and cattles etc. In essence, with 50% rain water harvesting, we can easily manage the water requirement of Chennai.

It is quite heartening to note that the Tamilnadu Chief Minister Ms. J Jayalalitha has taken a serious effort to promote rain water harvesting to meet Tamilnadu's water needs. Her government has passed an emergency Ordinance which makes it compulsory for all the private and public buildings to construct rain water harvesting facilities before the end of this month. This strategy to implement the groundwater recharge is launched in a major way in Tamilnadu with concerted efforts by various Governmental and Non-Governmental agencies and Public at large to build up the water table and make the groundwater resource, a reliable and a sustainable source for supplementing water supply needs of the urban dwellers. This in no means is a small measure and needs appreciation and whole-hearted support of everyone.

Recharge of groundwater through storm run off and roof top water collection, diversion and collection of run off into dry tanks, play grounds, parks and other vacant places are being implemented by Town Panchayats/ Municipalities /Municipal Corporations and other Government Establishments with special efforts. The Town Panchayats /Municipalities/Municipal Corporations have also been instructed to help the citizens and builders to adopt suitable recharge method in one's own house or building through demonstration and also by offering subsidies for materials and incentives.

The readers are recommended to visit http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/rainwater.htm to know more about the need to harvest rain water, different techniques of rain water harvesting, methods of artificial recharge and their benefits. There is no doubt that it is a visionary step in the forward direction. It is also to be appreciated that she is encouraging this to be converted into a people's movement, by making them to participate in water management of the State. Other States should also follow this pragmatic and viable approach. Our Prime Minister should also be congratulated for impressing upon the need to save (rain) water through his speeches. We should start believing that any major requirement of our country can easily be met by driving a people's movement rather than resorting to huge projects which would only lead to corruption and delay.