BMP signs MoU on rainwater-harvesting

BMP signs MoU on rainwater-harvesting

The Hindu

All parks and buildings of the civic body will adopt a new technique of conservation

BANGALORE: Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) to promote rainwater harvesting in its parks, playgrounds, hospitals and educational institutions.

The former Chief Secretary A. Ravindra and BMP Deputy Commissioner (Development) Krishnegowda signed the MoU in the presence of Mayor R. Narayanaswamy and Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam.

According to the MoU, an expert team from CSD will assist the BMP in implementing rainwater-harvesting measures in its buildings. The BMP, which will bear the cost, will later promote the technique among citizens and ensure that more people adopt it in their houses. The Mayor and the Commissioner said the civic body aimed at conserving and recharging rainwater extensively.

The Mayor said the building bylaws, which were amended in July 2004, had made it mandatory for all new buildings to adopt rainwater-harvesting techniques. "But we want to make it compulsory for all buildings, even those that were built prior to July 2004. A subsidy of Rs. 1,000 will be given to the first 5,000 houses that adopt this technique. The subsidy can later be extended to more houses if the response is good," the Mayor said.

New law

Mr. Jothiramalingam said the civic body had appealed to the State Government to enact a law making rainwater harvesting mandatory for all buildings in the city. "Although the amended building bylaws make it mandatory for all new building to adopt the technique, we are unable to monitor its implementation. So we have appealed for a legislation," he said.

Mr. Jothiramalingam said of the 10,000 building plans sanctioned from July 2004 till date, only 400 had adopted rainwater harvesting measures.

"It has been found that some of the buildings (built after July 2004) have not adopted the technique. "We have given them sometime after which they will be fined for violating the law," he said.

The BMP had set aside Rs. 1.5 crores this year for implementing rainwater-harvesting techniques in its buildings. "If required, we will divert more funds for this," the Commissioner said.

Dr. Ravindra appreciated the BMP's decision to grant subsidy to first 5,000 houses, which adopt rainwater-harvesting measures.