Despite a five-fold surge in rainwater harvesting installations over the past year, only 1,123 buildings in Nagpur have complied with the 14-year-old mandate. This equates to just 0.18% of all structures, according to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Critics attribute this sluggish progress to poor enforcement by the town planning department. Former Water Works Committee Chairman Vijay Zalke urges for a more earnest approach towards such critical ecological practices, emphasizing the significant potential of rainwater harvesting for groundwater replenishment.
Despite witnessing a substantial five-fold surge in the past year, the progress of rainwater harvesting system installations in the city of Nagpur remains slow and significantly below potential. This situation continues 14 years after the mandate to include these units in all new structures, with only 1,123 buildings in the city complying with this provision.
Data from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) show a marked increase in rainwater harvesting initiatives within its jurisdiction. Within the 2022-23 period, the count of structures incorporating these units jumped to 1,123, up from just 190 in the previous year. This uptick was reported after the building owners sought a 5% tax rebate last year, revealed Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Revenue) Milind Meshram.
However, these 1,123 buildings represent a meagre 0.18% of the city's total properties, estimated at around 6.36 lakh according to the tax department. This disparity persists despite the ruling effective from August 28, 2009, necessitating the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in non-gaothan areas for plots exceeding 300 square meters (or 3,228 square feet).
As part of its efforts to incentivize eco-conscious behaviour, the NMC offers a 5% to 10% discount on property tax for the adoption of four ecological initiatives, namely rooftop solar systems, rainwater harvesting, waste decomposition, and wastewater recycle and reuse. Yet only 4,831 of the total property owners have availed of these benefits, highlighting the dismally low uptake of sustainable measures.
Critics point fingers at the town planning department, accusing it of lax enforcement and follow-up. The department allegedly fails to conduct necessary inspections on the sanctioned structures to confirm the implementation and functionality of these eco-friendly systems.
Former Water Works Committee Chairman and ex-corporator Vijay Zalke commended the increase in rainwater harvesting systems as a positive trend despite its relatively low adoption. However, he censured the administration for the underwhelming performance in implementing such vital ecological schemes, particularly rainwater harvesting, which has significant potential for groundwater replenishment. During his tenure, Zalke issued multiple directives to enhance the groundwater table and criticized the administration for its apparent lack of seriousness towards rainwater harvesting.
In conclusion, while Nagpur's adoption of rainwater harvesting has taken a leap, it is imperative to accelerate the pace. Ensuring better enforcement of existing norms and offering viable incentives can go a long way in encouraging more buildings to join the sustainable wave. As climate change issues become increasingly pressing, prioritizing, and effectively managing water resources must be at the forefront of the city's environmental initiatives.
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