MYSORE: The heat is on the Mysore City Corporation (MCC), which has come under criticism from the people here for erratic water supply. With southwest monsoon fast approaching, the rattled corporation has now turned its attention on rainwater harvesting.

In the wake of complaints that its order on rainwater harvesting in new constructions had been flouted, the corporation on Thursday announced that it would make mandatory rainwater harvesting structures and completion report would be issued to new constructions, including apartments, only if they followed the rule aimed at recharging groundwater table.

Deputy Commissioner S. Selva Kumar, administrator of the corporation, said the corporation officials had been directed to issue completion report only after a thorough verification at the site of construction. Inaugurating a workshop on rainwater harvesting organised by the corporation, CART-NIE and The Institution of Engineers-India (IEI), Mysore chapter, here, the Deputy Commissioner admitted that the corporation's diktat on rainwater harvesting had not been strictly enforced all these years. Moreover, initiatives such as rainwater harvesting needed support from citizens, which should be monitored and guided by the authorities concerned.

"A sincere campaign to educate the public on rainwater harvesting can make a difference. Its seriousness and significance are understood only if there is water scarcity. Despite having surface water to use, people have the tendency of using groundwater which they could avoid to preserve it for use during a crisis," he said.

The workshop, which was organised to seek experts' opinion on the effective implementation of rainwater harvesting methods here, especially in view of scarcity of water in the city, resolved that water crisis could become a thing of past if rainwater was harvested by every household.

Though the system required some investment, it would be for life and house owners could overcome routine hassles, experts said.

They addressed technical sessions organised as part of the workshop on issues related to rainwater, drinking water, groundwater, etc. IEI Chairman M. Lakshmana said the civic authorities should chalk-out a plan to restore open wells in various households here on priority. Speaking on rooftop rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging, CART-NIE Director U.N. Ravikumar said a study on constructing pits for collecting rainwater and soak pits or recharge pits had become necessary since the current harvesting system executed by the corporation was not effective.

Therefore, a joint technical committee comprising officials of the corporation, Mysore Urban Development Authority and the Department of Horticulture should be formed to overcome these problems, he said.

Corporation Commissioner K.N. Chandrashekar said the corporation would consider the suggestions given during the workshop and implement them to popularise rainwater harvesting.

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