Water water everywhere, not a drop to drink: this quote from Samuel Taylor’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ describes the water crisis facing Delhi and the NCR where wrong practices have led to depleting ground water.
However, the situation may change soon as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday ordered that rainwater harvesting be ‘adopted as a rule’ in all government projects and institutions.
Also, no new government project, be it bridges or flyovers or any development work, would now be approved if it did not have provision for rainwater harvesting, which is to be made part of the tender.
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“...we direct the NCT of Delhi, all public authorities, and the government of India to ensure that rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) are installed in every project,” ordered a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar.
“As far as the new government projects are concerned, it should be ensured that no project is approved without a stipulation in the tender documents that rainwater harvesting systems would have to be constructed as part of the project,” the Bench said.
The tribunal has also called for a report on installation of RWHS on all flyovers in Delhi.
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Besides, it said, “Each department of the government as well as corporation would notify an officer, who shall be responsible for ensuring that the already installed systems and/or that are installed in future, work efficiently and are maintained properly.”
The tribunal has also
called for a report on installation of RWHS on all flyovers