BWSSB plans to popularise RWH Park

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is planning to seek the support of Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) to popularise the country’s first Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Theme Park set up in the city.

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rain Water Harvesting Theme Park, located on 40th cross,8th Main, Jayanagar 5th Block, has been set up at a cost of Rs 2.7 crore. It was inaugurated in March 2011. Till July 31, only 8,093 visitors, including 4,138 students from over 61 school and colleges across the city, have visited the park.

BWSSB Chief Engineer Kemparamaiah told Express, “We have already written to schools and colleges to send students. Now, we will write to KSTDC so that they can bring tourists to the theme park.”

The visitor’s record book at the park shows that students from other states and some foreign countries like Kenya and US have visited it as part of their project works. “Biswanath Sukul, Chairman of Old Malda Municipality in West Bengal visited the theme park on August 4 and wanted to set up a similar park at West Bengal,” said a BWSSB Assistant Executive Engineer.

Water Expert S Vishwanath said, “It is unfortunate that the park, which gives information on water, has failed to inspire our own people. It needs aggressive publicity and it is a good effort to popularise it through tourists”.

The park is open for public from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. It will now be open even on Sundays till 1 pm. The visitors will be shown documentaries on RWH in the auditorium and taken around the 28 working models of RWH set up at the park. Technical assistance is given to those interested on RWH between 11 am and 1 pm on Fridays.

When Express spoke to C D Dyavaiah, Managing Director of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, he said, “We have not received any letters from the water board. Once, we receive the letter, we will have a look at the theme park and other facilities. If we find that the theme park interests the tourists, we will send the tourists there,” he added.