A rainwater harvest system. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 14: Rainwater harvesting will shortly become a reality in the state.

In the first phase, the state government has decided to start rainwater harvesting on a pilot basis in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur, and Rs 100 crore that will be spent in the next five years has been earmarked for the project. Later, it will be extended to other 103 urban local areas.

The government will make it mandatory for all the newly constructed government buildings to have the rainwater harvesting provision. Private organisations will also be encouraged to take part in the project. To make the project popular, the government will extend financial assistance to the private houses. About Rs 1 lakh needs to be spent on a house with an area of 2,150sqft. In such cases, the government will provide Rs 45,000 towards subsidy.

Sources in the government said that nearly 16,995 buildings, including 550 government complexes, would be covered under the scheme in the first phase.

P.K. Jena, secretary of water resources, said: “The clean rainwater will be collected through a pipe and then stored. It can be used after proper cleaning. The rooftop rainwater harvesting scheme will be immensely helpful in future in view of the pressure on groundwater as a source of public water supply.”

The state government will empanel engineers as water conservation experts, who will be selected and trained by the water resources department.

Degree and diploma engineers and geology graduates will also be roped in as experts. They will get a remuneration of Rs 5,000 per house under the urban area.

The scheme will be implemented through installation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems.