Speaker calls for legislation to make RWH mandatory in K'taka

Bangalore, Mar 6 (UNI) Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Krishna today demanded that the state government bring in a legislation on the lines of neighbouring Tamil Nadu to make installation of rain water harvesting (RWH) structures mandatory in all houses and buildings in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Rs 13 lakh RWH demonstration system installed at the Vidhana Soudha here, he said steps should be taken to popularise RWH programme in urban and rural areas as water resources were becoming scarce in the state.

Commending the RWH system adopted at the Vidhana Soudha, he hoped that it would spread the message on the importance of RWH to all parts of the state.

Speaking after inaugurating the system, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy stressed the need for creating awareness among people dire need of installing RWH systems.

He informed that the state government had started desilting over 4000 tanks in various villages to enhance the level of ground water table, which was alarming in many districts.

Forest Department Principal Secretary Shivakumar said the demo model of RWH installed at the Vidhana Soudha could collect over four lakh litres of rain water.

He said the project was part of the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme (INEP) being implemented in the state at a cost of over Rs 23 crore.

The INEP project also included rehabilitation of tanks at rural places, providing technology for RWH and minimising environmental damage caused due to release of waste water by coffee processing units in Chikmagalur district.

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