Waterless Bengaluru wakes up to rain harvesting

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Bengaluru: With good rain across Karnataka and predictions of showers in the city through the monsoon, Bengaluru is gearing up to make good use of rainwater. 
 
The BWSSB  had identified about 56,000 buildings that needed to install a rainwater harvesting system (RWH). Out of these, about 47,000 buildings have already installed the RWH system till date.  
 
Initially, the BWSSB faced stiff resistance from Bengalureans in installing RWH in houses and commercial buildings. Even the government offices identified to install the RWH, defied the law. 
 
“Earlier, when we tried to enforce the mandate of installing an RWH, consumers resisted, asking us why they need to install an RWH when there were no rains. However, with the IMD predicting moderate to good rains this monsoon, more people are coming forward to adopt the RWH,” a BWSB official said. “Our campaigns, awa­reness drives and warnings did not work as well as the monsoon,” he added.
 
The BWSSB’s concern now is huge non-compliance in new areas. “Residents of the eight erstwhile urban local bodies, which are now part of the BBMP and can avail BWSSB services are not coming forward for authorised water connections. RWH is still a tough agenda to push here,” the official said. 
 
Although the deadline has been extended numerous times since December 2011, little progress had been made. The BWSSB, on its part, has been delaying taking action against non compliant consumers.  How­ever, the rains seem to have solved most of the BWSSB’s problems.