Despite losing 90% of his vision, Mahindrasinh Zala has spent over eight years harvesting rainwater in Rajkot, saving one lakh litres annually.
Former ITI employee has creates a stir with his passion for water harvesting. 63 years old, Mahindrasinh Zala suffered a serious injury that detached his retinas, causing him to lose 90 percent of his vision during an intense volleyball game in 1992. The Rajkot-based man couldn't get his vision back despite undergoing six surgeries. Now for over eight years, Zala has been diligently collecting rainwater during the monsoon season to address water scarcity issues in his community.
Zala's innovative water harvesting system is set up in the Kothariya colony where he lives. He has installed seven tanks across different levels of his building. The second-floor terrace holds a 3,000-litre tank, and when it fills, the excess water flows through pipes to two 1,000-litre tanks on the first-floor terrace. From there, the overflow is directed to a 2,000-litre tank on the ground floor. Additionally, there is a 1,000-litre tank in the parking area with filters to ensure the water is clean and usable. Excess water from this tank is directed into two ground-level storage tanks: a 3,000-litre tank and a 250-foot-deep bore.
Zala, with the help of his brother Gajendrasinh, son Yashrajsinh, and nephew Harshdeepsinh, manages to save a total of one lakh litres of water every year. This harvested water is used throughout the year, significantly reducing the need for electricity to pump water. “This also saves electricity,” adds his daughter-in-law Asha, explaining that they no longer need to use the water motor as frequently.
Zala's motivation for this project stemmed from the water scarcity he noticed early on. He emphasizes the importance of water conservation, saying, “If we don’t save water then the next generation will have to drink tears instead of water.” He challenges others by asking, “If we can open accounts and save money, can’t we also save water for our kids?”
Zala has invested Rs 25,000 in setting up the project. He encourages others to follow his example, saying, “I only have 10 percent light in my eyes and I can do this. You are all healthy, you should definitely take this up.” He adds, “I don’t even need recognition. Just practice water harvesting… for me, there’s no greater reward than that.”
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 "Visually impaired man becomes water hero")
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