This bungalow society is among the few that is not hit by water scarcity Ritu Goyal Harish

A green expanse of 5.25 acres envelopes the sprawling 88-bungalow Gera Greensville society in Kharadi. What makes this complex a virtual oasis is the successful implementation of rainwater harvesting by the developer.

"Water from all the rooftops goes into recharge pits that replenish underground aquifers through 11 borewells," said horticulturist Vijay Kalyankar who looks after the landscape.

The sprawling lawns, patches of green in bungalows, greenery in open areas are all watered by the harvested water which is close to 1 lakh litres. The groundwater table has also risen in the past three years. Water from the borewells is treated and distributed to the bungalows.

"We are probably the only complex in Kharadi that does not buy any tanker water. The gravel recharge pit rainwater harvesting system needs to be cleaned just before the monsoon. There is no other maintenance cost involved," Kalyankar said.

He added the builder had the foresight to construct a small check dam not far from the project that has created a small lake six years ago. "With every passing monsoon, the lake fills with more water and as a result our borewells are yielding more water," said Kalyankar.