Goa govt to amend laws to make rainwater harvesting mandatory

The Goa government is planning to amend laws to make rainwater harvesting mandatory for all new constructions, state water resources minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues said on Monday.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is expected to soon hold a meeting of all the departments to draw a plan on rainwater harvesting and its conservation in rural and urban areas of the coastal state, he said.

The government's move comes after the capital city of Panaji and some areas in Tiswadi and Ponda talukas of North Goa district faced water scarcity last week due to bursting of a pipeline.

"Rainwater harvesting has been a priority for the state government. We are trying to amend the existing laws to ensure that rainwater harvesting and its conservation is mandatory for all new constructions before they are granted licenses," Rodrigues told PTI.

He said the Town and Country Planning Act and the Goa Panchayati Raj Act would be amended to make rainwater harvesting compulsory.

Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserratte also said steps would be taken to make the capital city water self-sustainable.

The misuse of ground water will also be controlled, he said, adding the local civic body will take up steps to ensure that rainwater harvesting is a must for new buildings and structures.