The Hindu 04.05.2013
Corporation to make rain water harvesting mandatory for new buildings
Technical advice for residents to restore RWH structures.
With borewells drying up fast in residential areas due to dwindling groundwater table, the Vellore Corporation plans to invoke a 2003government order making Rain Water Harvesting structures (RWH) mandatory for new buildings, both residential and commercial.
In the last two months, the sound of drilling could be heard across many localities in the city limits such as Thorapadi, Allapuram, Vellore proper, Katpadi, Kazhinjur and Sathuvachari as the borewells dried up all of a sudden.
Residents in Allapuram complained that it took repeated drilling to find water source in the locality. At this point of time, the groundwater table was at around 300 to 400 feet below. Frustrated with the failure of the borewells in their houses, most residents have resorted to buying canned water at rates ranging from Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 per 1000 litres.
Though the construction of RWH structures were made mandatory by the State Government in 2003 during the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, the subsequent governments failed to implement the micro-level scheme that was found to improve groundwater table, especially in urban areas.
The RWH structures that were constructed in the houses and in the buildings of the local bodies have silted up over the years and are no longer serving the purpose. Under these circumstances, the Vellore Corporation has now decided to make RWH mandatory for new buildings and create awareness among the residents of the need to clean up the silted structures and make them functional.
“On completion of the buildings, we have asked the town planning inspectors to verify whether the site owners have constructed RWH structures. We collect a deposit of Rs. 1500 from each site owner who is constructing a house for the purpose of putting up RWH structures. We will refund the amount if the structures are built,” said Janaki, Commissioner of Vellore Corporation.
She said that all the councillors have been asked to ensure 100 per cent implementation of RWH on a pilot basis. Pamphlets explaining the importance of RWH and the methods of constructing the structures would also be issued to the residents and owners of commercial buildings, she said.
When asked about the silting up of many RWH structures in the buildings of the Vellore Corporation in different parts of the city, Ms. Janaki said that steps were being taken to restore the structures.
Technical advice would be given to the residents who wanted to restore the RWH structures in their houses, she said.
The move is to facilitate recharge of groundwater in the ensuing monsoons to end the acute water scarcity.
