Delhi Government Signs MoU for Rainwater Harvesting in 75 Schools

The Delhi Government signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on 10 July 2026 at the Delhi Secretariat for rainwater harvesting systems in 75 CM Shri Schools. The agreement involves the Directorate of Education, Indraprastha Gas Limited, and Ehsaas NGO under the national Catch the Rain campaign.

Memorandum of Understanding and Institutional Roles

A Memorandum of Understanding is a formal agreement between two or more parties that sets out responsibilities for a project. In this case, the Directorate of Education will provide administrative support and maintenance, Indraprastha Gas Limited will fund the project through Corporate Social Responsibility, and Ehsaas NGO will implement the work.

Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Schools

Rainwater harvesting is the collection, storage, and filtration of rainwater for later use or groundwater recharge. The project includes technical audits, restoration of existing systems, installation of new rooftop rainwater harvesting units, and awareness programmes for students and teachers. The initiative is expected to enable groundwater recharge of about two lakh litres annually in each participating school. Across 75 schools, the estimated annual rainwater harvesting capacity is nearly 50 crore litres.

Ehsaas Model and Delhi Jal Board Approval

The project will use the Ehsaas model, which was approved by the Delhi Jal Board in 2021. The model is designed for low cost and minimal maintenance, and it filters rainwater before channeling it for groundwater recharge. A detailed audit completed by May 2026 found that many existing rainwater harvesting systems in these schools were non-functional because of poor maintenance.

Important Facts for Exams

• Rainwater harvesting is a water conservation method used in urban and rural areas in India.
• The Catch the Rain campaign is associated with water conservation and rainwater harvesting activities in India.
• Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, is a statutory framework under the Companies Act, 2013 for eligible companies in India.
• Groundwater recharge refers to the process by which water percolates into aquifers below the earth’s surface.

School Network and Future Expansion

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the model may expand to nearly 800 Delhi government schools in the future. The government has also set a target of converting all 1,000 government schools into zero-waste campuses.