The Hindu              13.08.2013

BWSSB set to make good on disconnection threat

After issuing notice to nearly 5,000 residents for not
installing rainwater harvesting (RWH) units in their buildings, the
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is getting ready to
start disconnecting their water supply and sanitation lines. Officials
said the disconnection will start from August 20.

BWSSB,
through an amendment in 2009, made RWH compulsory for all buildings on
60 ft x 40 ft sites. As many as 55,000 buildings in the city and 13,531
houses in newly added areas were identified. However, of these, only
46,500 have adopted the system so far.

While all new
constructions on 30 ft x 40 ft sites should compulsorily adopt the
system, existing houses on sites of this dimension are exempted.

BWSSB
engineer-in-chief T. Venkataraju said there would be no leeway after
August 20 for those who failed to comply with the rules. The board was
legally empowered (under the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage
[Rainwater Harvesting] [Amendment] Regulations 2011, which came into
force from July 7, 2011) to cut off water and sanitary lines of those
who did not adopt the system, he said

“Although we
have given several deadlines to people for installing RWH, the response
is not as expected,” he admitted. BWSSB would continue to issue notice
to all those who have not installed the system. “We will give them a
week’s time before disconnecting the lines,” he added.

The
board had earlier announced incentives, including a 2 per cent property
tax rebate for up to five years for those who adopt the system, and
bank loans to install the units.

It has been
threatening to disconnect supply from last year, but this time it looks
like it’s serious after being pulled up by the Karnataka High Court
recently for not supplying clean drinking water to the residents
affected by groundwater contamination.

Notice issued to nearly 5,000 residents for not installing the units.