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RAINWATER HARVESTING (RWH) has obviously become an in-thing today, and Shree Padre, an energetic writer, has compiled the concepts of RWH between the covers of his slim book.

The book of 119 pages and 23 chapters, with 15 ``Success Stories'', is concise and the best part of the book is the last chapter where Shree Padre has listed, like a researcher, the sources of information for his book.

Shree Padre may have seen some of the structures he has mentioned and he seems to have taken pains to explain soil quality parameters and each type of rain trapping technique.

Unfortunately he has treated rooftop RWH casually. The point he has missed is, a large percentage of India's surface area is still in villages where rainwater recharges the soil much more than it does in urban agglomerates. The land surface in urban areas is covered, and a huge quantity of rainwater is lost every season. This loss needs to be tapped. Therefore this chapter should have provided more insight.

On the whole, the book is an outcome of enthusiasm, initiative, and belief. And these need to be appreciated. Shree Padre hasn't had the benefit of big publishers supporting his cause, and he could not afford the luxury of a launch in some starred hotel, where the book benefiting such awesome focus may be eminently unreadable and could border on myopic trash.

All said and done, Shree Padre's book on RWH is timely because it presents a topic that can solve the nation's water scarcity and flood control problems in the long run.

GOUTAM GHOSH
The Hindu, Sunday, Jun 02, 2002

This book attempts to quench the thirst of water scarcity solution seekers. Written in simple layman's english, the book, is a practical guide for the beginners.

The author Shree Padre, a farmer by profession and a journalist by obsession has zealously documented information on RWH from the world over, since last six years. He has written five books on the subject in Kannada language. Padre has recently launched Jalakoota, the water forum, to spread awareness and motivate individuals and communities to catch rain.

The 119 pages of the book are divided into two parts and 23 chapters. The first section of the book lays the foundation for a better understanding of the subject.

The different RWH techniques and methods are explained through illustrations, which are simple and easy to comprehend.

However, one illustration on page 18, presenting the natural and artificial recharge of rainwater is inadequate. This illustrated, a person pouring water from a bucket into the underground acquifer used to explain the procedure of artificial recharge. This may mislead a beginner.

The second half of the book is devoted to case studies from both India and abroad. This section helps to potray the potentiality of RWH. A comprehensive data bank is provided at the end of the book.

Catch Water Newsletter, June 2002

Ways of saving water The author Shree Padre, an authority in rain harvesting management, has given an account of various techniques used in water harvesting, which cannot be disputed. He provides various examples: that a leak of just one drop per second amounts to the wastage of about 45,000 litres of water per year. This could be sufficient for a single person for a period of 15 months. He goes on to even quote from records that after Independence, the country has spent about 70,000 crores on developing water resources, out of which 10,556 crores alone have been spent on construction of dams.

The author has looked into various success stories of water harvesting techniques used in different parts of the country and abroad. The best technique of water harvesting, under the aid of government of Thailand, witnessed the introduction of huge jars in every nook and corner of the country to collect rainwater. This project, introduced in 1985, has been the largest scale of rainwater harvesting. This has produced a sufficient amount of water for both personal and agricultural use.

I would sincerely advice people to refer to this book rather than stack it up in libraries to collect dust. It is a must read for communities, societies, Panchayat level workers and urban development officers. The author would do best to translate this book in various languages. This book is priced reasonably well and is a worth buy. In a country where half our farming population is either in drought or famine, this book could well serve as a bible that shows a better way to look at rainwater harvesting techniques. After all, prevention is better than cure.

RIKI   KRISHNAN
Deccan Herald, September 8, 2002 (Sunday Herald, Articulations, Page 4)