Odisha to launch rooftop rainwater harvesting scheme

The Odisha government Wednesday decided to implement a new scheme for rooftop rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge in urban areas of thed state, with an investment of Rs.100 crore.

The scheme will be implemented over the next five years. On a pilot basis, it will be implemented in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur.

Its implementation will be mandatory in newly built government buildings and quarters. The scheme will be implemented through installation of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RRHS) in buildings to augment ground water recharge, enhance the water table and improve water quality in the urban areas of the state.

"The scheme will be implemented in new government buildings and private buildings of the state. The government will provide subsidy up to 50 percent or Rs.45,000 to the private building owners," said water resources secretary Pradeep Jena.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who approved the guidelines of the scheme Wednesday.

Jena said the total number of buildings to be covered under the scheme is 16,995, including 550 government buildings and 16,405 private buildings.

The scheme will be implemented in all 105 urban local bodies (ULBs) through mass adoption of RRHS in private and government buildings with rooftop area up to 200 sq m, said an official of the department.

The scheme has been envisaged in the light of the Odisha Ground water (Regulation, Development and Management) Bill, 2011, wherein adoption of RRWH has been made mandatory for new government buildings.

Rainwater harvesting involves collection, filtering and use of rainwater, which falls on the rooftop (terrace or tiled roof) and in the portico of the house.

Rainwater harvesting can be adopted through recharging of bore wells near the house. Recharging of bore wells should be done to prevent them from drying up and improve their water table, said the official.