A high-rise apartment in Old Town, Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: In a bid to replenish the city’s falling water table, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has decided to crack the whip on builders who are yet to install rainwater-harvesting mechanism in their apartments.

In notices issued to apartment owners, the BDA has asked them to carry out mandatory provisions of the Planning and Building Standard Regulations, 2008, and install rainwater-harvesting systems within a month.

“If the apartment owners don’t adhere to the BDA regulation within 30 days, their approved plans would be cancelled and action initiated as per the rule,” warned BDA vice-chairman Deoranjan Kumar Singhdeo.

The Planning and Building Standard Regulations, 2008, states that buildings coming up on land that measures 300sqm or more must have rainwater-harvesting mechanism.

“Though the regulation is binding on all citizens, at present the emphasis is on apartments owners. They must specify provisions for the rainwater-harvesting system at the time of submitting their building plans to the BDA for approval,” he said.

Due to rapid urbanisation, the groundwater resources have decreased drastically and so have facilities to recharge the falling water table.

“Rapid urbanisation has led to depletion of groundwater resources. But no serious effort has been made to recharge groundwater resources. To ensure conservation of groundwater through the artificial recharge system, we have made it mandatory in our regulations,” he added.

The Planning and Building Regulations, 2008, has stressed the need for recharge of groundwater through rooftop and storm water collection.

“To make people aware of the importance of rainwater harvesting, civic bodies should motivate citizens and builders to adopt suitable recharge methods in their houses or buildings,” said urban development minister Badri Narayan Patra.

“The regulations are applicable to residential complexes built by private and government organisations within BDA’s jurisdiction. While submitting building plans, private builders are demonstrating the rainwater-harvesting system. But when they implement the projects, the builders violate rules. Therefore, we have issued notices and are reviewing the number of residential complexes that do not have rainwater-harvesting system,” he said.

“Those who have flouted the rules would have to install rainwater-harvesting system within a month. Else, strict action would be initiated. No one will be spared. In case of government organisations, the official in charge of the project would face departmental action,” he said.

There are 108 apartments in BDA’s jurisdiction. Seventy-seven of these cover an area over 300sqm. BDA sources said that only seven to eight apartments have the facility to harvest rainwater.

Three multi-storeyed buildings — Vandana Apartment, Toshali Plaza and Hira-Nila-Moti Housing Complex — of the Orissa State Housing Board (OSHB) do not have rainwater-harvesting system.

A board official, however, said: “In case of project already completed, the onus lies with the owners’ association.”

Some private builders, however, feel that the government should come out with specific mechanisms for installing the facility.

“Storing rainwater in rooftops and flushing it to about 15-20 feet below the ground will not serve the purpose. Bhubaneswar has both low-lying and mountainous areas. There can be no uniformity in rainwater-harvesting mechanism. The BDA should provide appropriate models,” said Suvash Bhoora, managing director, Utkal Builders.

Gaurav Bhayan, who lives in Ashirbad Apartment, said: “This is a good initiative. We welcome this. But setting up the rainwater-harvesting system would mean extra burden on us. We pay Rs 1,000 every month towards maintenance and all residents will not agree to bear the burden. The BDA should make the builders carry out the project.”

Dhilon Das of Jagannath Apartment echoed Bhayan. He said: “We are ready to set up the facility but the BDA should extend a helping hand to the owners’ association. The government should give subsidy to install the system.”