The Hindu : Karnataka News : BWSSB to go all out to popularise RWH

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Friday, Mar 25, 2011
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Karnataka

BWSSB to go all out to popularise RWH

Staff Reporter

It plans to install the units itself if property owners don't

S. Suresh Kumar

Bangalore: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will go all out to popularise rainwater harvesting (RWH) in the coming days.

The board plans to install RWH units for those who do not adopt it before the stipulated deadline and collect the amount through their monthly water bills.

Announcing this after inaugurating the World Water Day programme jointly organised by BWSSB and Bangalore Jalamandali Abhiyantarara Sangha, BWSSB Minister S. Suresh Kumar said the board would also come out with some incentives for those who adopt the system. Of the 56,000 identified houses, only 24,000 have installed the units so far.

Fresh deadline

He said a fresh deadline for RWH installation would be announced shortly.

“Although May 27, 2010 was the deadline announced when rainwater harvesting was made mandatory last year, the Act was amended again authorising the board to set a fresh deadline. We are planning a December 2011 or January 2012 deadline before which owners of existing buildings should adopt the system. Those who construct new buildings will not get water and underground drainage connections if they do not adopt RWH,” the Minister said.

Pointing out that the existing water crisis and the growing demand for water had made it essential for the board to come out with drastic measures to conserve water, the Minister said: “We will also involve school children in the coming days to popularise the concept.”

Cauvery project

Promising citizens that work on the Cauvery IV Phase 2nd Stage (that was earlier scheduled to be completed by March 2012) would be completed by December 2011, the Minister said this would facilitate an additional supply of 500 million litres of water per day (mld) to the city.

Additional Chief Secretary Subir Harisingh along with the Minister and BWSSB chairman P.B. Ramamurthy released a souvenir brought out by BWSSB to mark the occasion.

This was followed by a technical session wherein papers on water conservation and the existing water supply scenario were presented by experts.

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