Rainwater harvesting: Fines fail to deter violators

Bengaluru: Though BWSSB is slapping crores of rupees as penalty for residents, who have not installed rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures on their premises, the overall compliance continues to be low and many feel better off paying fines, rather than install them.

Of the total 1,77,702 properties which were identified by the water board having site area of 1,200 square feet or above, only 97,627 buildings have RWH structures. The owners of the remaining 80,075 structures are reluctant to install it and continue to pay fines religiously.

Ever since the water board began penalizing offenders, it has collected nearly Rs 28 crore as fines, and in the month of July alone it was Rs 2.74 crore.

Ram Prasad, co-founder and convener of Friends of Lakes argues that there are only two methods by which government can make people follow something.

"First is that government should implement RWH at all its buildings and public places so that people will be motivated and volunteer to follow the same," Ram Prasad said and added that this is not happening.

The second method is to slap hefty fines on offenders and force them to follow. Even though the water board is slapping fines they stop at a stage where the fine is equal to the amount of monthly water charges. This should not be case. Penalty should be multiplied every month, he said.

He insisted that the water board should immediately cut water connections to houses where RWH has not been installed.

"It is against the constitution to curb water supply. Then in what way shall the citizens be made to fall in line. Water board has to seriously think about this as rainwater is going down the drain. Even a slight migration of citizens from tapped water to rainwater, for purposes other than drinking, could significantly reduce the stress on Cauvery river water and help the farmers."

A BWSSB engineer associated with RWH project said that citizens are ready to pay penalty, but not install rainwater harvesting structures.

"We have been creating awareness in all possible ways, but not able to make them fall in line." he lamented. We may be forced to use the last resort and that is to cut water supply, he added.