The frequent spectre of drought notwithstanding, recharging groundwater has rarely figured on the Jharkhand government's agenda, with only 108 state-owned buildings having installed rainwater harvesting structures between 2006 and 2012, an independent survey has pointed out.

While no minister in the state, including water resources boss Chandra Prakash Choudhary and urban development's C.P. Singh, has implemented the water conservation method, most exploit the underground reserve through multiple deep bores, a trend underscored by social outfit Youth Power of India, which conducted its survey on Sunday, and also highlighted by The Telegraph in its reports last month.

The social survey shows that Kanke MLA Jitu Charan Ram and Hatia MLA Navin Jaiswal are no exception to the offence and The Telegraph reported earlier this month how recharge pits were languishing in neglect at the chief minister's home on Kanke Road as well as on Raj Bhavan premises.

On Wednesday, Jharkhand High Court too took cognisance of the water crisis in the state and directed the government to ensure that all its buildings and quarters were equipped with rain harvesting structures before June 22.

Manoj Kumar, president of Youth Power of India and member of Total Environment Awareness Movement (TEAM), said their independent survey was carried out in Ranchi on May 15.

"The Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA) had started clearing building maps along with rainwater harvesting systems from 2006. In 2011, we carried out a survey in 206 apartments, mostly state-run, and found only two had complied with the plan. Our recent survey on May 15 didn't who drastic changes," he said.

In Tamil Nadu, water harvesting was a norm in 22 lakh of 23 lakh houses. In Jharkhand, only 220 houses harvest rainwater by some way or the other, Kumar pointed out.

"Even new government buildings like Jal Bhavan in Doranda, Birsa Munda Bus Terminus in Khadgarha and the offices and residence of DC and SSP have no provision for rainwater harvesting. Lalpur police station has a new deep bore, but no recharge pit."

Kumar also cited the example of Harmu, where residents are facing acute water crisis. "I suggest they start digging ponds on barren land, as there is no other option. Before 2006 there were 270 ponds and now only 100 are left."

Youth Power claimed that the RMC had handed over occupancy certificates to builders of 3,000 apartments without proper verification. "How can the RMC do this without ensuring provisions for rainwater harvesting. It is time to ponder on such mistakes or perish," Kumar warned.