All government buildings in the district should implement rainwater harvesting system by June 20, Collector L. Subramanian said on Tuesday.
He was addressing a meeting of officials from the district administration and the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board convened to discuss measures to raise awareness among the public of rainwater harvesting before the monsoon sets in.
Officials said that the measures were being taken following the water scarcity due to deficit rainfall in the district.
“Houses which have already implemented rainwater harvesting should make sure that the facility is functioning before monsoon and we appeal to all other households to implement the system to put an end to the water scarcity,” Mr Subramanian said.
The Collector also instructed officials from the corporation to ensure that newly constructed and buildings under construction waiting for water connections, had rainwater harvesting implemented.
“All corporation schools, hospitals, offices and parks should also have functioning rainwater harvesting systems to ensure that surface water does not get wasted,” he said. Implementation of effective water saving systems in dry pockets in the district such as Usilampatti should be emphasised, Mr. Subramanian added.
The de-silting of channels leading to small water bodies and tanks in the district was also ordered.
Officials from the TWAD Board said that they were planning awareness programmes across the district to sensitise people to the need to effectively save and use water.
Mobile units carrying working models of houses with rainwater harvesting systems have been planned to visit different areas. A stall will also be set up at the Collectorate regarding the same, they said.
Plans are also under way to conduct awareness programmes at the city corporation office, village panchayat and block-level offices for the general public. A weekly review meeting on Saturdays has also been announced to keep track of the awareness measures and implementation of rainwater harvesting.
