The Hindu       25.03.2011

Corporation buildings to harvest rainwater

The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation will install rainwater harvesting units in all its buildings and offices.

Corporation Commissioner K.V. Trilok Chandra told presspersons here on Thursday that the corporation would take an initiative to set up rainwater harvesting units in its buildings before making it mandatory for other buildings and houses in the twin cities.

He said rainwater harvesting units would be set up in all the 25 buildings belonging to the corporation, including its offices, hospitals and schools. “We plan to have rooftop rainwater harvesting units installed on these buildings within a week or 10 days,” he said.

He said the corporation would then take steps to extend this facility to other government buildings, working in coordination with various departments to get adequate funds for the purpose.

He said that though there was a clause in the building bylaws of the corporation making rainwater harvesting system mandatory for new buildings, it was not being strictly enforced.

“We are aware of the fact that the mandatory clause has just been restricted to the seal to be put on the building permission given by the corporation. I have directed officials to take steps to strictly implement the clause,” he said.

Mr. Trilok Chandra said officials had been directed to issue completion certificates to buildings (both commercial and residential) only after spot inspection and after confirming that rainwater harvesting units had been installed.

“Subsequently, we will take up the issue of other buildings. We may need to bring the issue before the corporation council and make suitable amendments,” he said.