New Delhi: Delhi is fast staring at a groundwater crisis , but there is scant regard for by-laws that mandate rainwater harvesting for establishments built on plots of over 500 square metres. Just around 1,200 such units across the city have actually installed systems to route rainwater to underground resources, according to the reply filed by Delhi Jal Board in response to TOI’s RTI application.Under the Delhi Water and Sewer (Tariff and Metering) Regulations, 2012, it is mandatory for all establishments over 500 sq m, whether new or old, to install rainwater harvesting systems. Pre-policy constructions on 100-500 sq m are exempted, but all new ones in this size category are required to install such systems. “For plots above 100 sq m, those built after 2012 come under the water harvesting by-laws,” an official reiterated. According to available records, DJB itself has 15,706 units measuring 100-500 sq m.All properties adopting rainwater harvesting are provided a rebate of 10% in the water bill, but those mandatorily required to install harvesting systems and don’t are penalised with a bill that is 1.5 times higher than the actual amount. “As per the revenue management system, 1,254 consumers avail the rebate, while 11,388 have been charged the penal amount,” DJB said in its reply.Niti Aayog recently warned that Delhi would deplete its groundwater by 2020 at the current rate of exploitation. The city receives an annual average of 617mm of rainfall.Experts rue the poor enforcement of the policy, especially the long rope given to the new 100-500 sq m properties. “Repeated waivers, amnesties and shifting of compliance deadlines haven’t helped. Enforcement should be consistent for the impact to become visible,” noted Jyoti Sharma of NGO Forum for Organised Resource Conservation and Enhancement.Environmentalist Vinod Jain suggested following the Tamil Nadu model of rain harvesting. “There, the government builds the required system and charges the people for its use,” he said. “If they refuse to pay up, water and sewage connection are severed.”There is also a need to tweak the policy to conform to ground realities. “Many properties don’t have the built-up free area required for installing a rainwater pit,” pointed out Sharma. “Pooling of resources should be permitted and communities allowed to carry out water harvesting collectively.”Dinesh Mohaniya, DJB vice-chairman, revealed that DJB was also adopting a zero liquid discharge policy to arrest groundwater depletion. “Under this policy, waste water generated by the big consumers will be cleaned, refined and reused for horticulture, thus avoiding use of fresh water,” he said. He also noted that Delhi officially got rain for only 22 days in a year, rendering the harvesting system not too useful. “In contrast, the zero liquid discharge systems will feed the aquifers all 365 days,” he concluded.

Stay updated with all the Delhi Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.