Legislation on Rainwater Harvesting

Himachal Pradesh

• All commercial and institutional buildings, tourist and industrial complexes, hotels etc., existing or coming up and having a plinth area of more than 1000 square meters will have rain water storage facilities commensurate with the size of roof area. No objection certificates, required under different statutes, will not be issued to the owners of the buildings-unless they produce satisfactory proof of compliance of the new law. Toilet flush systems will have to be connected with the rainwater storage tank. It has been recommended that the buildings will have rain water storage facility commensurate with the size of roof in the open and set back area of the plot at the rate of 0.24 cft. Per sq m of the roof area.

Ahmedabad

• In 2002, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) had made rainwater harvesting mandatory for all buildings covering an area of over 1,500 square meters. According to the rule, for a cover area of over 1,500 square meters, one percolation well is mandatory to ensure ground water recharge. For every additional 4,000 square meters cover area, another well needs to be built.

Bangalore

• In order to conserve water and ensure ground water recharge, the Karnataka government in February 2009 announced that buildings, constructed in the city will have to compulsorily adopt rain water harvesting facility. Residential sites, which exceed an area of 2400 sq ft (40 x 60 ft), shall create rain harvesting facility according to the new law.

Port Blair

• In 2007, Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) directed all the persons related to construction work to provide a proper spout or tank for the collection of rainwater to be utilised for various domestic purposes other than drinking. As per the existing building by-laws 1999 the slab or roof of the building would have to be provided with a proper spout or gutter for collection of rain water, which would be beneficial for the residents of the municipal area during water crisis. The PBMC had advised all the owners of buildings in the Municipal area to comply with the provisions within four months failing which action would be taken against them by the Council.

Chennai

• Rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in three storied buildings (irrespective of the size of the rooftop area). All new water and sewer connections are provided only after the installation of rainwater harvesting systems.

Kerala

• The Kerala Municipality Building Rules, 1999 was amended by a notification dated January 12, 2004 issued by the Government of Kerala to include rainwater harvesting structures in new construction. Read more…

New Delhi

• Since June 2001, the Ministry of Urban affairs and Poverty Alleviation has made rainwater harvesting mandatory in all new buildings with a roof area of more than 100 sq m and in all plots with an area of more than 1000 sq m that are being developed.
• The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has made rainwater harvesting mandatory in all institutions and residential colonies in notified areas (South and southwest Delhi and adjoining areas like Faridabad, Gurgaon and Ghaziabad). This is also applicable to all the buildings in notified areas that have tube wells. The deadline for this was for March 31, 2002.
• The CGWA has also banned drilling of tube wells in notified areas
• Draft Delhi water board (amendment) Bill more>>

Indore (Madhya Pradesh)

• Rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in all new buildings with an area of 250 sq m or more.
• A rebate of 6 per cent on property tax has been offered as an incentive for implementing rainwater harvesting systems.

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)

• Rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in all new buildings with an area of 1000 sq m or more.

Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)

• Rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in all new buildings with an area of 300 sq m or more.
• Tentative for enforcing this deadline was June 2001.

Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002

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Tamil Nadu

Through an ordinance titled Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws ordinance, 2003, dated July 19, 2003, the government of Tamil Nadu has made rainwater harvesting mandatory for all the buildings, both public and private, in the state. The deadline to construct rainwater harvesting structures is August 31, 2003. The ordinance cautions, “Where the rain water harvesting structure is not provided as required, the Commissioner or any person authorized by him in this behalf may, after giving notice to the owner or occupier of the building, cause rain water harvesting structure to be provided in such building and recover the cost of such provision along with the incidental expense thereof in the same manner as property tax”. It also warns the citizens on disconnection of water supply connection provided rainwater harvesting structures are not provided.

Haryana

• Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has made rainwater harvesting mandatory in all new buildings irrespective of roof area.
• In the notified areas in Gurgaon town and the adjoining industrial areas all the institutions and residential colonies have been asked to adopt water harvesting by the CGWA. This is also applicable to all the buildings in notified areas having a tube well; deadline was for March 31, 2002.
• The CGWA has also banned drilling of tube wells in notified areas.

Rajasthan

• The state government has made rainwater harvesting mandatory for all public and establishments and all properties in plots covering more than 500 sq m in urban areas.

Mumbai

• The state government has made rainwater harvesting mandatory for all buildings that are being constructed on plots that are more than 1,000 sq m in size.
• The deadline set for this was October, 2002.

Gujarat

• The state roads and buildings department has made rainwater harvesting mandatory for all government buildings