BANGALORE: With only 10 days remaining for the deadline to install rain water harvesting (RWH) in all buildings measuring 40 ft x 60 ft, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has threatened to disconnect water connections to 17,489 buildings, in which rain water harvesting has not been installed. Of the 55,000 buildings in the city, only 37,511 have installed rain water harvesting. The water board has so far extended deadlines thrice, and this time, officials are not likely to be ‘generous.’Officials said despite many awareness campaigns held by the water board, citizens have not understood the importance of rain water harvesting.However, the extension has not made much difference to the people. As few as 4,173 households have adopted rain water harvesting in the last two-and-half-months (between January 1 and March 20). The average rain water harvesting installations per day in the month of December varied between 100 and 150, but presently has gone down to 25. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials opine with the onset of summer, Bangaloreans might ignore the drive, and the attitude could be, ‘There will be no rains in summer. So no need for rain water harvesting.” Speaking to Express, BWSSB engineer-in-chief T Venkatraju, said, “Water supply disconnection drive will start from April. All our services will be cut in those buildings which do not have rain water harvesting.”“Water inspectors and meter readers have constantly reminded the residents who do not have RWH to install the system before the deadline ends. We do not intend to unnecessarily pressurise people. RWH has many advantages and will ease extra burden on borewells,” said Kemparamaiah, chief engineer, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.Kemparamaiah said that the disconnection drive will also be held in government buildings which do not have RWH.
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