<p class="bodytext">The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has started a new survey of all the properties in the city to identify those that have failed to install a Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) system in their premises. Given that the state is witnessing severe drought and water security for the city is a cause of concern, the experts in the domain have pointed out the importance of catching rainwater.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources in BWSSB said that the survey is also being taken up since the officials were not convinced about the number of RWH systems in the city.</p>.Enforce rainwater harvesting rule strictly.<p class="bodytext">According to data from the BWSSB, there are close to 10.6 lakh water connections in the city and only about 1.8 lakh of them have installed a RWH system. Close to another 43,000 of the households have been paying a penalty to the <br />BWSSB.</p>.<p class="bodytext">That brings the total number of households that have to mandatorily install the RWH system to only close to 2.3 lakh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We felt that the numbers are low and there are many properties that have not been included. Hence the survey,”</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the BWSSB Amendment Act, 2011 all properties constructed in plots above 60x40 feet should have a RWH system. Since the law was applicable retrospectively, many older properties may have been left out of the ambit, a senior BWSSB official said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The last survey was conducted in 2016, and the data did not seem convincing, the official added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The survey is being conducted by meter readers during the monthly billing period.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The meter readers will observe the structure of the houses and check if they have installed a RWH. This way, by next month, we should have accurate data,” said Suresh B, BWSSB Engineer-in-chief.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the BWSSB is trying to create awareness among people, there are many challenges on the ground, said another official.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The mindset of the people should change. Also, a few houses constructed before the mandatory rule was passed have space constraints, making it difficult to install such a system. We will have to address such concerns,” yet another senior BWSSB official said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Close to 43,000 households that have been identified for non-implementation of RWH are paying BWSSB close to Rs 1.5 crore in penalty every month.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has started a new survey of all the properties in the city to identify those that have failed to install a Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) system in their premises. Given that the state is witnessing severe drought and water security for the city is a cause of concern, the experts in the domain have pointed out the importance of catching rainwater.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources in BWSSB said that the survey is also being taken up since the officials were not convinced about the number of RWH systems in the city.</p>.Enforce rainwater harvesting rule strictly.<p class="bodytext">According to data from the BWSSB, there are close to 10.6 lakh water connections in the city and only about 1.8 lakh of them have installed a RWH system. Close to another 43,000 of the households have been paying a penalty to the <br />BWSSB.</p>.<p class="bodytext">That brings the total number of households that have to mandatorily install the RWH system to only close to 2.3 lakh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We felt that the numbers are low and there are many properties that have not been included. Hence the survey,”</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the BWSSB Amendment Act, 2011 all properties constructed in plots above 60x40 feet should have a RWH system. Since the law was applicable retrospectively, many older properties may have been left out of the ambit, a senior BWSSB official said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The last survey was conducted in 2016, and the data did not seem convincing, the official added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The survey is being conducted by meter readers during the monthly billing period.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The meter readers will observe the structure of the houses and check if they have installed a RWH. This way, by next month, we should have accurate data,” said Suresh B, BWSSB Engineer-in-chief.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the BWSSB is trying to create awareness among people, there are many challenges on the ground, said another official.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The mindset of the people should change. Also, a few houses constructed before the mandatory rule was passed have space constraints, making it difficult to install such a system. We will have to address such concerns,” yet another senior BWSSB official said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Close to 43,000 households that have been identified for non-implementation of RWH are paying BWSSB close to Rs 1.5 crore in penalty every month.</p>