Rainwater harvesting must for constructing houses

Guwahati, Nov 28 (UNI) Alarmed over the depleting ground water level, the Asom government today announced that it was mandatory to tap rainwater before getting permission to construct houses in the city.

Unveiling its new by-laws of constructions of Guwahati City at a news conference here, Asom Guwahati Development Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said every multi-storied building should have the provision before applying for the license.

''The emphasis is on tapping the overground water so that the water is recharged, and we have done it in consultation with the experts,'' he said.

Since last one decade, the city had been experiencing an extraordinary growth of population. Hence, instead of piecemeal measures, the government had gone for a comprehensive master plan considering the future demands.

''The tender for the consultation in this regard is out and tender papers were collected by consultants from France, Israel, and the US. We will clinch the deal by December 15,'' Mr Sharma said, adding, the entire selection process had been outsourced.

Through stringent provisions, the government has sought to curb the haphazard growth of multi-storied houses all over the city and expand it as large as possible.

The builders opposed the drafted by-law but it was revised and the court had also intervened asking the government to prepare a model by-law.

The new by-law sought to bring in several stringent measures so that those builders' lobby could not violate them.

''We have also made provisions that every public building has special ramp for the physically-challenged people to access it,'' said Mr Sharma said.

Emphasis would also be given to improve the parking scenario of the city, he added.

He admitted that the city was in a very bad shape and would take time to improve the condition. ''The government is also in consultation with foreign expert for the mass rapid transport system,'' he said.

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