Raids reveal 50 per cent bldgs lack RWH structures

Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said that special teams set up to conduct RWH drive inspected around 8,000 buildings in 200 divisions of the civic body till Tuesday. But, only 50 per cent of the buildings has rainwater harvesting structures. “Our team is providing technical advice to building owners whose RWH structures are in not in use apart from imploring owners to build new structures,” he added.

The Corporation, along with Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), has constituted 200 teams for 200 divisions. Each team would identify 1,000 buildings that lack rainwater harvesting structures and assist building owners to build them. The plan is to create two lakh new RWH structures before October 30.

Overall, the city has around 12.75 lakh buildings. The teams are concentrating on big buildings such as shopping complexes, movie halls, multi-storeyed apartments and others during phase one. RWH structures are mandated while availing building plan approvals and getting water and sewage connections.

Meanwhile, the special teams also identified 23 big community wells that are not in use. “These community wells also will be restored and excess rainwater will be let into the wells to recharge groundwater. Apart from the community wells, there are 90,591 small surface wells in individual houses. House owners will be encouraged to use those wells to store rainwater,” Prakash said.

Explaining the measures taken to recharge groundwater using stormwater drains, Prakash said that recharge pits are being built every 10 metres in stormwater drains. “Also, we are going to start the stormwater operation and maintenance initiative to ensure proper maintenance of the stormwater drains. Contractors failing to maintain the drains would be penalised,” he added.