New Deadline For Rainwater Harvesting Bangalore
Rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in the city following an amendment to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Bill 2009. To pressure consumers into installing the now-mandatory rainwater harvesting system on their property, the State Government has decided to bring slackers into line by disconnecting their water supply. December 31, 2011 is the deadline to installing rainwater harvesting (RWH) system in existing buildings on a site area of 2,400 sq ft and above. While it is applicable for all new structures constructed on a site area measuring 1,200 sq ft and above.
Even though May 27, 2010 was the deadline announced when rainwater harvesting was made mandatory last year, the Act was amended again authorizing the board to set a fresh deadline. As per the BWSSB records, of the 58,000 identified buildings where RWH units need to be installed, only about 24,990 buildings have done so. December 31 is the deadline to installing rainwater harvesting. If not installed, the BWSSB may disconnect water and sanitary connections to such properties. After disconnection, if the owner complies with the rule, connection will be restored.
Besides this, the BWSSB has asked BBMP to grant a two per cent rebate on property tax for those who adopt RWH system at their homes. The BWSSB has planned to get loans at attractive rates of interest for those who need financial assistance to install the units. To popularize the system, the BWSSB set up a RWH theme park in Jayanagar on a two-acre plot at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.
The BWSSB consumers can call up the BWSSB help desk 26653666, 23341652, and 23348849 for suggestions. Besides, you can take the help of plumbers trained by the water board. The list of at least 281 plumbers is available on the BWSSB website.
You can also contact AR Shivakumar, Senior Fellow and Principal Investigator – RWH, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560 012. Phone : 080 2334 1652, 2334 8848, 2334 8849 E-mail : ars@kscst.iisc.ernet.in, rwhcell@kscst.iisc.ernet.in
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