Face fine for defunct rainwater harvesting system at society in Gurugram

GURUGRAM: The district administration has directed residential societies, institutions, schools and other establishments to ensure proper functioning of the rainwater harvesting on their premises by June 15. The directions have been issued so that the system is effectively operational during the monsoon season.

The teams of the district administration will conduct checks after June 15 and the establishments where the rainwater harvesting systems are found non-functional will be penalised.

“As per clause 8.1 (1) of Haryana Building Code, rainwater harvesting is compulsory to be installed by the owner constructing the building on the plot where the area of the rooftop is 100 square metres or more. As per clause 8.1 (2) of Haryana Building code, recharging of ground water shall be mandatory not only for residential buildings but for all types of buildings including group housing societies having a plot area more than 500 square meters and above,” read the notice issued by the deputy commissioner Dr Yash Garg.

The directions have been issued for all residential buildings, schools, industrial establishments etc. that fall under the district administration, MCG, HSVP and DTCP.

It was in March that a meeting of the administration officials and GuruJal society was held to discuss about the matter. It was decided in the meeting that the GuruJal teams along with the administration teams will conduct an enforcement drive to check whether the existing rainwater harvesting systems are working properly or not.

“We have started visiting the government buildings in the districts including the government buildings located in other blocks of Gurgaon and have checked around 50 buildings. If rainwater harvesting systems are not working properly, we are asking the staff to fix it before June 15. For the residential buildings and other establishments, we will start our enforcement drive after June 15. Strict action will be taken against defaulters and occupation certificate of the building will also be cancelled if owners don’t adhere to guidelines,” said a member of the GuruJal team.