Telangana municipal administration minister KT Ramarao is planning to take up rain water harvesting as a people’s movement involving not only the residents of Hyderabad but also the corporate companies.
He laid out a plan of action for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to organize the movement by roping in all the government departments, IT companies, Industries civil society associations etc. He said construction of a rainwater harvesting pit is mandatory for issuing construction permission to the new houses and apartments in GHMC.
In the wake of alarmingly falling ground water table in Hyderabad, he said, unless the groundwater table is recharged by all stakeholders, it would not be possible to address the water scarcity, which they can’t always depende on the unpredictable rains. The prevailing drought situation in the state, especially in Hyderabad, has forced KT Ramarao, to take up the initiative on war footing.
The minister urged the people of Hyderabad to refrain from using water callously as it would aggravate the prevailing water scarcity.
Reviewing the 100-day action plan, he has given to the GHMC upon assuming office as the Minister for Municipal Administration, Ramarao said the people should save water and avoid waste.
“Since the state is under drought conditions the people should be cautious in using the scarce resource like water. The officials should make rain water harvesting arrangement mandatory for all new buildings. All buildings should compulsorily make ways for rain water to flow into harvesting pits on their premises,” he instructed.
KTR directed the officials to give permissions for construction of new buildings only when they come up with pucca plan for conserving rain water and water harvesting pits.
The MAUD minister also instructed the officials to take immediate steps to ensure that rain water harvesting pits constructed all IT Parks, Industrial estates, private, Government offices across the state. The minister also instructed the officials to hold talks with all companies and industries and involve them movement for harvesting the rain water to make Hyderabad and the state rich in ground water.
