Bangalore has done it again. After all the hungama, more than 40,000 out of a total 55,000 buildings have installed Rain Water Harvesting (RWH).Earlier, last year, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had made it mandatory to install RWH on all existing buildings, measuring 40x60 feet and new buildings measuring 30x40 feet to tackle the ever—increasing problem of water shortage, and to balance the demand and supply of water in the expanding city.With the amendment of Karnataka Gazette Notification (May 19,2011), the water board has exercised all powers conferred to it through Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1964 (Karnataka Act 36 of 1964).It is empowered to disconnect water and sanitary connection to those buildings which has failed to adhere by RWH installation within the stipulated deadline.However, more than 8000 residents have written letters to BWSSB seeking extension.BWSSB officials had given enough warning to building owners to implement RWH, through their water inspectors and their staff who regularly visit the buildings to note the water meter readings.With the official deadline ending by March end, the BWSSB has now sought letters from those who have complied by the rule.Of the 15,000 building owners, more than 8000 have written letters to the board citing reasons like lack of funds etc and have sought extension ranging from one month up to four months.Citizens demanding a holistic approach have alleged that the threatening move by BWSSB to disconnect its services is not appropriate, while Kemparamaiah, chief engineer, BWSSB said “Scarcity of water exists everywhere and we have taken up this initiative with a motive to balance the demand and supply of water.It is for the welfare of the future generation and not to threaten the people to stick to the rule”.E v e n B W S S B and Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar feels there is no logic in imposing rain water harvesting (RWH) on the city.“It must be seen more as a ‘voluntary’ measure than an order of the government.” “The public must not feel it is imposed.We must instead create awareness so that the people themselves adopt RWH.A joint meeting of BBMP and BWSSB will be convened in a week.Special attention is being given to install RWH in government buildings and lands in a way to enc o u r - age the p u b l i c to take up RWH” Suresh Kumar opines.What is Rainwater Harvesting ?Rainwater Harvesting means collection and storage of rainwater from roof top of a building or from a vacant land for use or for groundwater recharge.Rainwater harvesting is adopted in cities to supplement the city’s other water supplies, to increase soil moisture levels for urban greenery, to raise the water table through artificial recharge, to mitigate urban flooding.Except for drinking and cooking purposes, water conserved through RWH can be used for bathing, washing, gardening, flushing of toilets, and floor cleaning.Rain Water Harvesting Theme ParkThe Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park at 5th Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore is a unique concept brought to life by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to spread awareness about the benefits and practicalities of implementing rainwater harvesting.The theme park which was inaugurated on World Water Day on March 2011 has all working models of RWH.It has been visited by 7787 people till May 8.In the 46 technical sessions and 38 awareness camps provided by the park, 1364 plumbers have been trained to install RWH.About 862 people have been provided technical knowledge and clarification by the team of engineers at the park’s help desk over phone.About 3784 children from more than 42 schools and 354 college students from across the city have visited the park as part of their education.Do BWSSB buildings have RWH?At a time when the citizens are asking the BWSSB to look around its own buildings and implement RWH, T Venkatraju, Engineer-inchief, BWSSB said “Out of 216 BWSSB buildings, almost all the buildings have already implemented RWH.Only two buildings belonging to the water board has to install RWH.It is getting delayed as the engineers have found rocky terrain under two buildings”.RWH on Govt.BuildingsAs per the old records with Committee on RWH, there are 2,523 government buildings.“Of this, about 50 per cent of the buildings have installed RWH.The above figure consists of all government buildings.It is expected to reduce, once we bifurcate the building measuring only 40x60 feet.The exact figure on how many government buildings have installed RWH will be available after a meeting which is scheduled on May 15”.Water Experts’sayWhen we sought the opinion of water experts like Captain Raja Rao, former irrigation secretary he said “In one method, the rain water collected on roofs are guided to tanks below for direct use and in the other method it is allowed to percolate into ground through open wells.In the first method water collected in tanks have to be put to use with the help of a motor to flush toilets, to wash cars, to gardens etc.But who will monitor whether the conserved water is really put to use ?” “If the water is not put to use time-to-time, the surplus water will overflow.Only 10- 15 per cent of the rain water can be conserved through RWH” he added.Raja Rao further suggested the civic bodies to take up RWH at every intersection of roads in association with private firms, which will save lot of rain water which now flows into storm water drains.
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