Several Government buildings in Bokaro have flouted norms — to adopt rainwater harvesting sytem — despite the fact that the Government had made the system mandatory for each building across the State. The newly-constructed DRDA Building (Vikash Bhawan) at Bokaro is now ready for inauguration but it does not have a rainwater harvesting system.
"Within next 20 days we will handover the building to the concerned district administration official," said SN Rai contractor of the building. “Everything is ready now but we yet to get NOC from BSl for electrification,” he added Constructed with an estimated cost of Rs5 crore 20 lakh, this building is equipped with all modern facilities but lacks rainwater harvesting facility, admitted Rai."We have constructed the building according to map and work order, construction of ‘Rain Pit’ was not mentioned in the map as well as in the work order," he said.
Raj Kumar Rana, Executive Engineer of Building Construction department also confirmed that there was no provision for construction of rainwater harvesting pit in the map as well as in work order of DRDA building.The construction work of DRDA building was started in 2011 and the approved construction cost was 4 crore 15 lakhs but work delayed due to selection of wrong site that incurred additional 1.05 crore rupees, said Rana.
“The estimate was revised and the additional amount was approved”, he added.It’s worth mentioning that despite revision of the estimate and approval of additional 1.5 crore rupees construction of ‘rainwater harvesting pit’ was not kept in mind. An average rainwater harvesting structure (pit) cost only around Rs10,000, official sources said.
Not only the DRDA building but recently-inaugurated Sadar Hospital building and newly-constructed ANM training building at Bokaro also lacks the system.“Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA) amended building bylaws in November, 2006 and made adoption of rainwater harvesting and recharge well mandatory for all multi-dwelling and commercial units,” an offcial said.
Rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory in all buildings, said Gaghender Kumar a social worker residing at Chas. “The groundwater level is reducing at a constant pace and if we do not take any alternative step, we will soon become dry and parched”, he added. Rainwater harvesting is the best alternative and every one should promote it, he said.