Norms pertaining to rainwater harvesting and implementing them stringently in Ranchi prevailed as Board of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) sat down to discuss civic issues of State Capital on Tuesday.
Ward councillors of the Board unanimously favoured the penalties to be imposed as per rainwater harvesting norms –some even called for harsher deterrents against non-compliance–but strongly disagreed with the one-month deadline laid down for house-owners to install rainwater harvesting systems in their buildings, which expires on May 31.
As per house tax regulations formulated by the urban local body, house-owners who do not factor in rainwater harvesting in their holding tax self assessment will have to pay 1.5 times their actual holding tax.
“Taxpayers are being bullied into practising rainwater harvesting, threatened with penalties and deadline. Strict steps are definitely required for enforcing rainwater harvesting, but they should become tools to harass common public,” stated Mayor Asha lakra.
Replying to the statement, Municipal Commissioner Prashant Kumar said, “People can submit their self-assessment till August 31 and have this much time for getting the structure for rainwater harvesting built in their houses. The May 31deadline had been stipulated to ensure that people can benefit from this year’s monsoon as it would have mostly passed by the end of August.”
After Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijaywargia informed that Urban Development Department is planning its own regulations for water harvesting, it was decided that the deadline is postponed till June, and a final call on it to be taken after State Government publicises its set of norms pertaining to the issue. He also proposed that the money gathered from penalising defaulters can be used to fund community water harvesting systems.
“A brochure has been drafted to explain the rainwater harvesting models we have developed in a simple manner and will be distributed door-to-door. The same will be released in a workshop on Wednesday,” informed the Municipal Commissioner.
He further added, “Tenders have been floated to empanel five agencies who can be called to install the systems. Three agencies have already submitted their proposals. Bids will open tomorrow and rates will be fixed shortly after.”
The discrepancies uncovered in first phase of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna (PMAY) were also raised by ward councillors during the meeting. They demanded the action being taken against the officials responsible for the irregularities.