In the face of impending water crisis during peak summer, some residents have taken up the cudgels to stress the use of eco-friendly colours and conserve water this Holi.

Madhu Srivastava, a resident of Boring Road, said: “I have decided to celebrate Holi with gulal.”

Several residents have decided to celebrate Holi with dry and eco-friendly colours. They are taking measures to combat the threat of drought-like situation that looms over Patna in summer. Srivastava and her friends have compiled a list of ways in which one can conserve water and still have fun on Holi and are spreading awareness among neighbours on saving water.

“Playing Holi at home will only get the apartment dirty, leading to excessive use of water in cleaning it. We suggest residents play Holi in garden areas. It would help conserve buckets of water that would have otherwise gone in cleaning the apartments,” said Srivastava.

The plans of Srivastava and others like her have made dermatologists happy.

“Gone are those days when playing Holi without water was unimaginable. For preventing skin damage one can opt for natural, herbal and vegetable colours. They are easily washed off,” said dermatologist P.K. Rai.

In a bid to save water, parents are also keeping their children away from water balloons, a hot favourite. “It is difficult to convince Nitya, my five-year-old daughter, not to play with water balloons. But this time, I made her understand the pros and cons of playing with water balloons and she agreed to say no to water balloons,” added Namrata, a resident of SP Verma Road.

Environment experts hailed the residents’ initiative.

“Bihar is not faced with acute water crisis as that in states such as Maharashtra. But we do face a scarcity of water, especially drinking water crisis, during summer. Water saved now can be used for numerous purposes in the coming months,” said Ashok Ghosh, professor-in-charge, department of environment and water management, AN College.