No NOC to housing projects not linked to water source

Water management in a multi-storeyed building is quite challenging and often brings down the housing projects to a standstill, in most cases. According to the latest market news, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board will not issue No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to housing projects and buildings, which fails to state a water source that can sustain its inhabitants.

According to the state government, construction of apartments hereafter will not be sanctioned if they could not specify their water source. In the last three years, BBMP has sanctioned the construction of more than 2553 buildings housing around 26342 flats.

However, the latest government rule state that NOC will be issued by BWSSB to a builder only when it meets the mandatory conditions, including sewage treatment plant for buildings comprising of around 100 units along with rainwater harvesting for all the apartments.

Requirements for NOC

NOC Certificate from the BWSSB for providing underground amenities and water supply subject to certain conditions including:

• The water supply to the premises will be offered on the basis of water availability prevailing at the time of permission
• The developers will have to pay for the expense for both water supply and UGD lines.
• The developers will have to make their own arrangements during construction of the building.
• The developers will have to pay the required charged as mentioned by the Board for water supply and sanitary connection
• Rain water should not enter the Board sewer line
• The party is required to get sanction from the Board Authorities for executing internal plumbing works of a particular apartment
• The applicant is required to provide a facility for rainwater harvesting along with groundwater recharge.

Bangalore water supply source

Approval of construction plans of any locality requires identifying the availability of water. In Bangalore, around 705 million litre water per day is supplied by the BWSSB, however, the demand is for 840 MLD.

The shortage in water supply is fulfilled by groundwater sources. According to BBMP professionals, unrestrained proliferation of the bore wells has contributed to the depletion of groundwater sources and dropping of water table levels significantly. To add to it, continuous use of more water, inspite of the looming impasse have further deteriorated the situation.

Central Issue

According to government reports, most of the housing projects do not comply with rainwater harvesting. To add to it, the increasing number of housing projects has also adversely affected the water table. Around 90% of the buildings in the city bank on water tankers and borewells. In accordance to a survey by the stamp and registration department, a number of flats are lying vacant in Bangalore, since homebuyers are afraid to purchase them due to water scarcity. Lack of water connection and tankers in such buildings have significantly contributed to the decline in possession of flats in Bangalore.

Officials of sewage and water authorities of Bangalore further confirm that Cauvery water will not be available for the people of the city, since the state has utilized all it was allotted. The government is trying to find an alternative way such as getting water from Ettinahole, but this would consume a lot of time to get implemented.

Water availability issue, within the city and its outskirts, is a matter of great concern.
There are a number of ways by which owner associations and homeowners can become more water efficient and help cut down the unnecessary water usage of a building. To add to it, the government has also advised people not to fall for the blitzkrieg advertisements of the developers for properties near city outskirts.