Jharkhand High Court has directed the State Government to equip all Government buildings with rainwater harvesting structures immediately and file a status report in this regard on or before June 22.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Virendra Singh and Justice S Chandrasekhar was hearing a PIl on Wednesday seeking cleaning of water bodies and reservoirs to deal with the water crisis across the State.
"Water harvesting projects must be started in all Government buildings, residences, public sector establishments as well as apartments having a surface area of more than 3,000 square feet immediately so that conservation of water could be done through it during this rainy season," said the Chief Justice.
"Private buildings must also be given a deadline of June 15 to complete water harvesting projects," said Singh.
Earlier, hearing a supplementary petition filed by Empower Jharkhand, a civil society organization, seeking expansion of the proposed Distillery Pond in Kokar, the court asked RMC to come up with a revised detailed project report for developing it as a water reservoir with increased capacity.
The RMC promised to develop the areas as an 'urban forest' of about 10.9 acres having more than 100 trees of different varieties in it with their names written on a plaque and also its importance in general. RMC also assured the court that it would increase the size of the pond to a large extent.
RMC, through an affidavit, however, submitted that to ensure supply of drinking water to everyone, all the 10 water tankers promised for the purpose have been purchased and have been made functional. Second, 11 public redressal cells have been established across Ranchi, on a ratio of one for every five wards. There are a total of 55 wards in Ranchi.
The RMC also stated that as many as 337 water distribution points have been identified across the capital city and timings had also been notified in the local newspapers on May 7. The water tankers go on those distribution points and distribute water among the people.
According to RMC, leakage of pipes is also being taken care of, by deputing a four-member team which will roam around in the capital and fix leaking pipelines. Adequate care was also being taken in order to ensure clean water to everyone in the State capital.