BANGALORE: While the phrase deadline would actually mean complying to a certain directive within the given period of time, in Namma Bangalore, it stands as a line that can be crossed to make way for another ‘dead’ line. While most of the city dwellers are used to the callous attitude of the civic authorities, the ‘dead’line for installing the Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) has been extended yet again by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). This time the ‘dead’line is 31 December for all homes built on sites exceeding 40/60 feet. But the same assurance was given earlier as well and stated that all measures to ensure RWH would be “in place before the onset of monsoon.”But the Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP), which has brought over 11 lakh properties under the Tax net this year, has seen only 27,600 RWH’s installed out of the nearly 60,000 identified houses. The BWSSB, on the other hand has barely even started even though the matter has been in constant discussions at the city council. All water and sanitary pipelines for plots that measure 40x60 feet would be disconnected in the case of failure to install RWH, according to the water board. On the other hand the new properties will have to submit a layout plan to the BWSSB which will have to incorporate RWHs. Properties measuring 30x40 feet will also have to conform with the norms, else they will not be given a clearance certification to proceed.BWSSB executive engineer, Nagendra said, “We are still checking and visiting the remaining houses”. The BBMP, which very enthusiastically made space for RWH installations in its budget, now claims to have nothing to do with the issue. “The BBMP will only ensure that public buildings, educational institutions, government buildings and others such public establishments have RWH,” an official told City Express. But the BBMP officials added that all new building plans would be approved only if there is provision for RWH.The BBMP Commissioner, Siddiah, who has promoted the cause of arresting rain water said, “The BBMP is not involved in setting the deadlines. It is the BWSSB who is responsible for laying the deadlines and ensuring that they are met. Irrespective the Palike is ensuring that it does its bit. We are installing RWHs in areas that come under our purview, from playgrounds to secondary drains”. But the main aim of RWH seems to have washed away as rain water continues to flood roads and drains but not ‘quench’ the thirst of the Bangalorean.
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