Centre advising mandatory rain-harvesting at new bldgs: Naidu

Vijayawada (AP), Apr 23: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu yesterday said his ministry had advised the urban development authorities not to approve building plans if they don't provide for rainwater harvesting units.

"We have advised the urban authorities not to give approval for new constructions without rainwater harvesting units," he said. Naidu and Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar today planted two coconut trees to mark the World Earth Day on the premises of Swarna Bharat Trust at Atkur village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu lauded the decision of Telangana government not to allow construction of new buildings without a rainwater harvesting unit and appealed to other states to replicate it. Future generations would suffer if we failed to save water and nature, he said.

PTI