Port Blair: Rainwater harvesting made compulsory

Port Blair, June 04: Stricken by severe water crisis, the Port Blair Municipal Council(PBMC) today made it compulsory to keep rainwater harvesting provision in all stages of building in the capital city of Andaman.

The Port Blair Municipal Council had advised architects, engineers and licensed supervisors to ensure compliance of the building by-laws in respect of execution of the sanctioned plan in all stages of building construction and ensure that no violation of the sanctioned plan was committed by the building owners, failing which their licenses were liable to be cancelled, Mohammed, the Secretary of Port Blair Municipal Council told UNI today.

In a meeting held in the office of the Secretary, Municipal Council, the PBMC directed every person who constructs, reconstructs, adds to a building or alters it, to provide a proper spout or tank for collection of rain water to be utilised for various domestic purposes other than drinking.

As per the existing building by-laws 1999 the slab or roof of the building would have to be provided with proper spout or gutter for collection of rain water, which would be beneficial to the residents of the municipal area during water crisis.

In an official circular issued today the PBMC had advised all the owners of buildings in the Municipal area to comply with the provisions within four months failing which action would be taken against the building owners by the Council.

The Administration had directed the implementation of the provision strictly within the stipulated time, the Secretary PBMC added.

Meanwhile, the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands visited Dhanikhari and Sippighat area of South Andaman today.

He inspected the water level besides overseeing demonstration of alternative arrangements installed at the dam.

UNI