When you see a 600-year-old water harvesting structure being encroached upon and used as a garbage dump, it is difficult to give any credibility to the Delhi government's enthusiasm for water harvesting. Mahipalpur village, at the southwest end of Vasant Kunj, is home to one of the oldest and most efficient water harvesting systems. Ferozshah Tuglaq, who was very interested in irrigation and understood the importance of water harvesting, had built a johar - catchment area like structure - complete with embankment walls. The originally 17-acre johar is only five acres today. Instead of being filled within water it has buildings, buffalo-sheds and the ubiquitous temple in its main catchment area. What is worse, the johar is completely dry.