Rainwater harvesting only option left

KANPUR: As the city reels under acute water crisis, rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the wisdom of the moment. Though in 2001, a government order (GO) was issued to make it mandatory, town-planners are yet to understand the precarious nature of the situation.
The consumption pattern of underground water is alarmingly higher than the rate of storage, thus forcing a dangerous drop in the underground water level every year.The annual rate of drop of water is 60 cm while within a decade, the drop has been recorded to be 30-ft.
A senior scientist said: "Within a fortnight, monsoon is expected to be here and, like previous years, precious water is expected to flow down the drain as sewage water will clog the city streets. Though the annual rainfall every year is recorded above normal, water cannot be stored underground due to lack of storage area in houses."
A report issued by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Delhi says all structures in the city with a plot area of more than 100 sq-mt are supposed to implement rainwater harvesting.
In city, all buildings with an area of 300 sq-mt are supposed to have a system of RWH. Talking to TOI, Ramendra Vikram Singh, secretary, Kanpur Development Authority said: "The importance of rain-water harvesting has grown to increase supplemental water for city's requirements. The provision of RWH has been made mandatory by the Union Government, following which KDA should only approve maps having plot area of more than 300 square-metre and which also have facility of RWH."
Out of various zones of KDA, 715 plans supporting RWH have been sanctioned by the department. Around 250 plans are in zone 1 of KDA, 150 plans in zone 2, 120 plans in zone 3, 130 plans in zone 4 and so on.
With more powerful water-pumps, deeper borewells and handpumps penetrating the heart of the Earth, water shortage is being severely felt. The city suffers from a shortage of 140 mld of water daily, with only 410 mld water available to population of 55 lakh instead of required 550 mld.
Authorities also feel that it is not feasible to make rainwater harvesting compulsory for existing buildings. Singh added: "Not much could be done in the buildings constructed earlier. But, since 2005, KDA has been sanctioning only those plans which have this provision."
KDA secretary further said buildings violating the law would be sealed by departments if they were missing a system of roof-top rainwater harvesting.