RWH may become must for all houses in City

RWH may become must for all houses in City
By S Lalitha, DH News Service, Bangalore:
The thrust of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board's (BWSSB) rainwater harvesting campaign in the last five years had been on new buildings constructed in the City.


The Board has now decided to make it mandatory for all the existing buildings to install rainwater harvesting facilities in their premises. This figures among the key steps contemplated by the BWSSB to cope with possible water scarcity in the City this summer.

BWSSB Chairperson P B Ramamurthy told Deccan Herald that the new rule has been included in the proposed amendment to the BWSSB Rules (Section 72A). “It will not be imposed drastically and sufficient time will be given for the public to abide by this rule,” he said. The Board is also recruiting a professional public relations agency to spread awareness on rainwater harvesting. NGOs are also being roped in. “We are not planning to impose it with an iron hand but by convincing the masses,” he said.

Potable water

On the progress in recycling sewage to potable water, Ramamurthy said, work on a pilot project began a fortnight ago and a demonstration plant has been installed on the Mysore Road to recycle sewage from the Vrishabhavati valley. “One lakh litres of potable water per day is being generated from 1.05 lakh litres of used water. Different tests are being conducted to ensure its safety,” he said. This being the first such experiment in the country, other States are keen on the results, he added.

Sanitary connections

Steps to provide sanitary connections under The Greater Bangalore Water Supply and Sanitation Project (GBWASP) to the eight urban local bodies (added to form BBMP), was proceeding smoothly, he said. The Rs 938-crore project is being undertaken under the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) with financial assistance provided by the World Bank and JNNURM.
“It has been split into 24 segments and the WB has already given permission for 10 segments.” Connections for Bommanahalli was the latest to be sanctioned.

“Work on all the segments will commence by June or July this year and the project will be completed by 2012,” he said.