In 2011, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) made a significant policy revision by mandating the construction of water harvesting structures for plots measuring 300 square meters and above. JDA officials recently revealed that this initiative aimed to promote rainwater harvesting and address water scarcity in Jaipur. However, despite the measure being in place for several years, the latest data indicates that only 220 buildings in the city have complied with the requirement. This underscores the need for further awareness and enforcement to encourage more property owners to adopt rainwater harvesting systems and contribute to sustainable water management in the region.
Despite the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) making it mandatory in 2011 to install rainwater harvesting systems for buildings with plot areas exceeding 300 square metres, a shocking revelation from official records indicates that only 220 such buildings in the city have complied with this rule. Civic body officials have also pointed out the lack of rainwater harvesting infrastructure in the city's parks.
The IDA officials expressed their concerns over the widespread non-compliance, stating that the majority of buildings in Jaipur with plots exceeding 300 square metres have not implemented rainwater harvesting systems. This failure to adopt sustainable practices is exacerbating the water scarcity issue in the city.
Notably, the enforcement wing of IDA had introduced a penalty of Rs 25,000 in 2011 for buildings failing to install rainwater harvesting structures. However, this measure seems to have had limited impact on ensuring compliance.
In addition to the lack of rainwater harvesting systems in buildings, Jaipur's parks also suffer from a similar oversight. Officials from the IMC-Greater pointed out that most parks in the city lack the necessary infrastructure for rainwater harvesting. A few parks that did have such systems were installed by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) over a decade ago.
The consequences of this negligence have been grave, as Jaipur is among nine districts in the state that utilized more underground water than was replenished through rains last year, according to a report by the jal shakti ministry. The capital district alone consumed 223% more water than it received through rainfall, resulting in a serious imbalance in groundwater resources. As a result, dry zones have expanded, aggravating the water scarcity situation in the region.
A separate report highlighted that 99% of the irrigated land in Jaipur district, covering 2.80 lakh hectares, relies on groundwater for irrigation. The rampant use of groundwater for irrigation in regions like Govindgarh, Sanganer, and Jhotwara blocks has led to a significant decline in groundwater levels. Approximately 40% of the groundwater table in Jaipur has already dropped below 40 metres, and the trend continues to worsen with each passing year.
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