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Rajiv Gauba
Secretary

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Government of lndia
Ministry of Urban Development
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi - 110011

D.O. No. K-1 401 1 /83/2009/U D. I I

May 13,2016
Dear

You are aware that many of our cities are facing

severe drinking water crisis. The
seasonal crisis even in cities having sufficient rainfall
underlines tie urgent need to
improve water supply as well as the water resource
management system. Apart from the
issue of shortage of water supply from the source
itself, the main cause of this water
scarcity is the inefficient water supply system where
a significant quantity of water is being
lost in leakages, etc' The rapid pace of urbanisation
has resulted in over exploitation of
ground water aquifers which usualty
serve as a backup for city water supply.
ln this regard, it is suggested that the following
measures may kindly be considered
for adoption by the States Governments/
ULBs:_

(1)

Although many states have atready made provisions

for mandating rain water
harvesting in their building bye-laws, it
is seen that the implementation and monitoring
at
ULB level is not effective towards achieving
the desired results of rain water harvesting.
This Ministry has issued Model Buildin! Bye-Laws,
2016 which inctude updated
provisions for rain water harvesting
besides various mechanisms for effective
implementation and monitoring of these provisions.
These include creation of a
monitoring cell at ULB tevel, empanelment
of various agencies for facilitating residents
interested in having RWH systems installed,
etc. Adoption of these Model Building ByeLaws will give a renewed thrust to the effort
of harvesting the rain water in our cities.

(2) A speciat responsibility lies with all ULBs to create

and maintain

rain water
harvesting systems for all public spaces
and public buildings. This will also act as a
demonstration for citizens to come forward
and voluntarily
- install RWH systems
in their
l
existing buildings.

(3)

A suitable incentive mechanism may also be

designed, like rebate in property tax,
for existing buildings to install RWH systems.
A common recharge system for draining
and recharging into a nearby public space,
for a cluster of houses/ buildings where
there
is no space for making a RWH structure individualy
h"; ;;l;;;;;r.fully
tried in
some States.

(4)

The rapidly depleting water table due to over exploitation has led to complete
prohibition on digglng new tube-wells i bore-wells in many cities. Proper enforcement of
such prohibitions is required to be monitored at higher levels and permissions may only
be given in exceptional circumstances. A rapid analysis of the effectiveness of this
prohibition and permissions given would also throw useful light on steps required for
making this ban more effective.

(5)

The overall improvement in water distribution system of the city, focussing on

leakages and misuse, also needs immediate attention. Shortterm steps towards reducing
such losses need to be initiated without waiting for the overall renewal or upgradation of
plan water supply scheme whlch may have a long term perspective. Such schemes for
renewal / upgradation can be undertaken under AMRUT.

lwould request that you may kindly review this issue at your level along with
Principal Secretary / Secretary of Urban Development Department and Municipal
commissioners / heads of ULBs. All ULBs in your State may be asked to take up special
drives for creating rain water harvesting systems not only in new buildings and public
spaces but also in existing buildings of the city. ULBs may be urged to make concerted
efforts to achieve citizens' involvement in these efforts so that these measures may
acquire the desired momentum.
With regards,

w--Yours sincerely,

(Rajiv Gauba)
Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all States/UTs