Private buildings in Delhi still lag in rainwater harvesting

NEW DELHI: Despite some progress in installing rainwater harvesting (RWH) units in schools, government departments and Delhi Jal Board buildings, the capital is far from realising its potential and private plot owners are still reluctant about adopting the technology, reveals the DJB data.

Considering that Delhi receives an annual average rainfall of 617mm, this 917 million cubic metres of precious resource can be used to recharge the depleting groundwater levels of the water-stressed city.

DJB is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the RWH system by other government departments in Delhi. The Data shows that while 1,305 government buildings have been covered, it remains a work in progress in 1,232 buildings.

An official said schools and colleges had shown remarkable progress. “According to available reports from various educational institutions, 3,675 schools and colleges have been covered with the RWH system out of a target of 4,796,” he said.

However, the biggest concern continues to be private building owners. The DJB records show the RWH system has been implemented in 1,869 privately-owned buildings. A report prepared by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) states that as many as 11,342 building plans with RWH provisions were sanctioned between 2012 and 2019 in south Delhi alone. Similarly, DJB alone has more than 15,706 such plots (100-500sq m) registered in its revenue management system and the RWH system is mandatory for all of them.

As per rule 50 of the Delhi water and sewer (tariff and metering) regulations, these plots are provided a rebate of 10% in the total bill in-order to popularise the idea. On the other hand, those who fail to install a functional RWH system have to pay a steep 1.5 times the bill amount.

Last August, DJB made it mandatory for all properties with an area of 100sq m and above to have functional rainwater harvesting systems, thereby steeply expanding the category. The compliance, however, has been way lower than expectations. Experts have repeatedly flagged non-imposition of penalty and postponement of deadline as main causes behind low compliance.

Jal board vice-chairperson Raghav Chadha said, “Rain centres have been created in each district by DJB where anyone can visit to know about the guidelines, needs, basic structure, rebate for implementation of RWH system. The work was slowed due to the worldwide pandemic but it’s gradually picking up pace now.”

He pointed out that DJB had achieved a near completion in installation of the RWH system in its own buildings. “The RWH system has been implemented in 544 out of the 594 DJB buildings and the rest are being targeted for work completion shortly.”

Chadha said DJB was also implementing the RWH system in 87 buildings that were not being maintained by it. Work has been completed in five of them, he added.