Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur Smart and Sustainable Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) inaugurated groundwater recharge systems involving rainwater harvesting at two public schools in January 2022. The first-of-its-kind pilot project, based on Internet of Things (IoT) applications, is part of the larger European Commission-funded UrbanLEDS-II project, which was implemented in collaboration with ICLEI South Asia and UN-Habitat in Nagpur.

NMC, NSSCDCL, and ICLEISouthAsia conducted scientific investigations to identify possible groundwater recharge zones in the city, in the light of increased water demand and a critical need to raise the region’s groundwater table. Two NMCschools, Saint Kabir School and Bharat Nagar School were selected for the initiative; the interventions have a combined potential to recharge 8 lakh liters of rainwater per year.

A unique feature of the project is the use of the IoT system for remote monitoring of the groundwater level. Critical parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and the groundwater level will be monitored in real-time.

Based on the initial technical study and pilot projects, a city-wide detailed plan is being developed. NMC plans to replicate similar groundwater recharge projects across the city, through rainwater harvesting and scientific use of appropriate designs and methodologies.

Hon’ble Mayor of Nagpur Dayashankar Tiwari inaugurated the pilots in the presence of senior government representatives, corporators of the concerned prabhags ( wards), and NSSCDCL officials.