This non profit organization is focusing on promising technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors for sustainable impact on the use of Earth’s natural wealth and resources. Green Sheen Environment Foundation, the non profit organization, has made a proposition to the government on an ambitious Rainwater Harvesting Plan for the National Highways. This proposal involves AI based solutions like mapping of artificial groundwater recharge structures, revitalizing existing ponds and creating a database of all water bodies in the country by geo-tagging them. This proposal was sent to a database of all water bodies in the country by geo-tagging them. This proposal was sent to a database of all water bodies in the country by geo-tagging them. This proposal was submitted to Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

GHSE has also proposed that rainwater harvesting structures (RHS) can be set up along India’s national highways that stretch over thousands of kilometres across the country, being approximately 33,00,000km  is the area of most of the major roads and other roads out of which national highways take up 67,000 km. This is an opportunity to utilize every single drop of rain that can be reused. 400,000 litres of water can be collected from 4 lane highway stretching at least a kilometre. Due to this project there would be greenbelts along the highways. This method of structured rainwater harvesting will help in overcoming water scarcity; it will reduce road maintenance costs and also increase soil moisture content and fertility of roadside soil. It can also help in adding the green cover and increase scenic beauty near the highways with the growth of flora and fauna that are affected by pollution.

It has been noted that there is an increase in demand for water due to rise in population and change in lifestyles, becoming more water intensive at a time when the supplies are shrinking.

The mission of this foundation is to leverage emerging technologies for smarter conservation decisions. GSEF is set to host a webinar on September 15 in collaboration with national water missions, ‘on the melting peaks’. This is said to focus on use of AI and innovation for better understanding and predicting of glacial Lake Floods and also overcome the challenges faced in the water sector.

-Shashi A