Municipal Commissioner Prashant Kumar on Monday said that house owners with better alternatives for rainwater harvesting techniques differing from those approved by the civic body have the liberty to adopt such methods.
His statement came during an experience sharing cum feedback session hosted by Ranchi Municipal Corporation to garner opinions and suggestions from architects and engineers on the three models of rainwater harvesting structures laid down by the urban local body.
Addressing questions from technical experts on the topic of rainwater harvesting, Kumar stated, “Provisions have been made in the regulations stating that alternative models with better technology achieving the same results as the approved rainwater harvesting models can be used. Apparatus like inline rainwater filters can be used as they are more cost-effective and requires less space.”
On architects’ reservations about the space required for recharge pits of the rainwater harvesting structure, Kumar added that creative solutions to the problem are welcome.
“I have come across two structures where the recharge pit was cleverly built inside the house itself. Similar techniques can be used if there is a shortage of space for recharge pits. These designs have been forwarded to ward councillors,” Kumar said.
For every rooftop measuring 1,000 square feet, a recharge pit of 200 cubic feet is to be made in the rainwater harvesting structure. “The belief that additional space is required for making is wrong. Architects should disseminate this information among house-owners,” Kumar further added.
The architects also questioned the effectiveness of the system owing to the rock nature of Ranchi’s terrain. The water allowed to percolate in the soil might not reach the groundwater due to the underground rocks, they said.
“There is enough soil to absorb the rainwater allowed to seep into the ground and its depth is sufficient to filter minute impurities in the water too. Additionally, there are fissures in the underground rock bed which will allow the water to seep to the aquifer,” stated Kumar.
Several steps taken to popularise and expedite the practice among denizens of Ranchi were also intimated by RMC officials. “A total of seven agencies have been empanelled which will install rainwater harvesting systems. 2.5 lakh booklets containing the name, address and contact details of these agencies will be published and distributed door-to-door,” Kumar said.
He further added, “A chart of the quantity of materials required for each of the three models and their rates has been drafted for distribution. A cost estimation of the same has also been chalked out but that may vary from place to place.”
A training programme for masons will also be conducted to coach them in technical aspects of building a rainwater harvesting structure, providing more options for house-owners to find a skilled man to install the system.
“We have made norms stipulating that those found to be dumping used water from bathrooms and kitchens in the recharge pits will be penalised as this will pose a threat of polluting the groundwater reserves. As per the regulations, financial penalties to the tune of Rs 10,000 will be imposed on the defaulters,” added Kumar.