"I started this campaign in Besant Nagar in selfish interest because I am a resident there and I was deeply concerned and anxious about the misuse of ground water by people, its indiscriminate overdrawal. Besant Nagar lies in the coastal zone and as you draw more and more water, the seawater is just waiting to seep into the vacuum. When I cautioned people about it six years ago and advocated recharging ground water by rain harvesting, people appreciated my efforts but did not realize the seriousness of the situation. Two years back, water in areas around Ashtalakshmi Temple, Vellankanni Church etc began to turn salty and residents woke up to the danger." "Now I get about three or four calls a day from different parts of Chennai seeking advice. Somehow, catching a bus here and there I manage to go to all the places."

A Ph D in Physics and working for a firm involved in village studies and research programmes encouraging a return to traditional methods of living, Shekar Raghavan's interest in rainwater harvesting seems most natural. His posters bombard readers with questions like: "Do you know that the ultimate source of all fresh water is rain?' and 'Do you know that Chennai is not a rain starved city but a water starved one?'

The fact that about 50 apartment complexes and 50 independent houses in his area have implemented rain-harvesting methods and that he gets calls every day from people willing to harvest rain, is a measure of how far he has succeeded in his campaign. Consultation and advice are free. He guides those who seek his advice and, where asked, he also names a plumbing team that will execute the project at reasonable cost. "For the rest, it is between the plumber and the house owner or Association secretary," he says.

Call Mr.Shekar Raghavan
D 15, Bayview Apartments,
Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar
Chennai- 600 090
Ph- 4918415