Officials to inspect if RWAs harvesting rain

My dear Vohra Ji,

It is strange. Govt. officials with little knowledge keep on issuing baseless directives without studying the problem. Rain water harvesting is such a proposition. In small flats, First of all they should find out the way as to how and where the water could be harvested. After that they should provide technical know how and funds, only after which the RWAs come in picture.

S.K. Chandan.

RWA, Janakpuri,

Officials to inspect if RWAs harvesting rain

Dear Vohra Ji,

I fully agree with you. Let the Govt Team come. When they give the date & Time of the visit to a colony, the Colony should inform this to every one on your blog as well as on URJA & Joint Front groups. We should all join up and explain the Govt Officials, the sorry state of affairs.

regards 

Col Shivraj

President

Munirka Vihar Welfare Association

Officials to inspect if RWAs harvesting rain

Dear Mr. Vohra ji,

You are right and always ! It is true how the RWAs could be held responsible? Notwithstanding, I would like to mention that when the MCD (now EDMC) constructed the storm water drains in our colony, we had suggested two things (i) to give a slope to the entire drain-line so that the water could be channelized properly and will lead to a greater storage space and thereby save the precious rain water and (ii) punch the concrete base of the drainage so that the accumulated water could drain itself to mother earth, which is also a measure of rain water harvesting. Despite repeated pleas, they had not listened to either of the suggestions. As a result water gets accumulated in the storm water drains with silt and become a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes which has been shown to the authorities concerned as well! At our repeated request they(the EDMC) do some cosmetic treatment by taking out the silt under the drainage accumulated over a period of time, before the onset of monsoon and claim that they have done an wonderful service by doing so!

Even now the EDMC instead of doing all this useless work under the banner of 'rain water harvesting' (when there is no rain at all), punch the base of the storm water drains already constructed with a concrete base on sides as well as at the bottom, the accumulated water could seep down to earth and only silt has to be removed from time to time to make it functional. Will the authorities listen to this suggestion! We pray to the Almighty!!

Incidentally, I would like to mention yet an another important aspect relating to 'colony security'. Is it not the sole and whole responsibility of the Police authorities to ensure the 'safety and security' of people and their properties? If so, why the RWAs are forced to make their own arrangements to secure the colony by engaging 'security guards - chowkidars', put up iron gates at the entry and exit points of the colony and guard them too, arrange to provide CCTVs at vantage points etc. In case the Police dept. is having a shortage of personnel to do its sole and basic job, which plea they often take without any logic or base and which has been questioned too by Courts, let them reimburse the expenditure being incurred by the RWAs on this account which is substantial and has to be squeezed from the residents with a beggars bowl by the RWAs! Will it not be constitute a justifiable PIL before the court. Your comments pl. I would suggest this cause should be taken up collectively with the authorities concerned and pleaded in the Courts of Law!

With deep regards,

TK Balu/Anand Vihar

Officials to inspect if RWAs harvesting rain

You have very rightly said Vohra ji,  RWAs have not been given any authority despite their repeated appeals in various meetings with the CM,  DC(Revenue) and the Commissioner, MCD/EDMC.  Even, our request that RWAs should be consulted before starting any development work in their respective areas, has not been heard.  Policies and decisions are made in air-conditioned rooms without knowing the ground realities. 

Empowerment of RWAs is an important issue being raised by different RWAs for a long time.  I think it is time that we raise it with the LG, if the government wants a positive support and participation of RWAs.  Bhagidari was an avenue to raise our problems and concerns, that too has been scrapped.

R. N. Gupta

Priyadarshini Vihar RWA

Officials to inspect if RWAs harvesting rain

Residents welfare associations can soon expect government officials to make inspections of rainwater harvesting structures in their colonies. After National Green Tribunal formed a committee on Friday to take stock of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in the city and directed it to conduct site visits to each RWA to check the condition of RWH structures, if any.

Looks STRANGE that while RWAs have no Authority, no Power, no Funds, no Space (even for their own offices ), Govt. is expecting if RWAs are harvesting rains. Though the Group housing societies may have such structures under the check & control of RWAs, how the Govt can expect it from RWAs of the other open colonies.

They must check with the authorities that : if any land has been alloted to RWAs for RWH ? If any funds have been provided to the RWAs for RWH ? If any Power or Authority has been given to RWAs for RWH ? 

The truth is that most of the colonies don't even have separate drains for sewage & rain water. Waterloging in almost every part of the city is a clear cut example that most of the colonies don't even have suitable drains. The truth is that even the drinking water pipelines pass through the drains in many areas of the city & that's the reason for dirty water in their taps. The truth is that Delhi needs a rainwater policy first and a plan to have RWH structures that can be monitored easily. 

B S Vohra

Officials to inspect if RWAs harvesting rain

NEW DELHI: Residents welfare associations can soon expect government officials to make inspections of rainwater harvesting structures in their colonies. After National Green Tribunal formed a committee on Friday to take stock of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in the city and directed it to conduct site visits to each RWA to check the condition of RWH structures, if any, the environment department is all set to coordinate this mammoth exercise. Four teams with two officials in each will be making site visits in all districts starting later this week. Officials say the month's time given by NGT to submit the report is too little to cover the entire city.

Agencies are also worried about some practical issues. The bench has directed: "Any public body, corporations, authorities and the government will not allot land to any society or issue completion certificate or occupancy certificate for any house unless it contains the stipulation that rain harvesting system should be installed and made operational. In such occupancy or allotment letter issued, this condition should be satisfied and it is required to be recorded by the authority concerned after personal inspection."

The environment department had submitted to NGT that it is not equipped to monitor RWH structures in Delhi. "We have only four technical officers. How can they monitor so many areas? We feel the responsibility should be given to the land owning agency or corporation who anyway visit new constructions," said a senior official from the environment department. Delhi Jal Board has also not started enforcing RWH on a large scale. In most places including Chennai and Bangalore, the water supplying agency is responsible for RWH, though in Mumbai it's the municipal corporation.

DJB cites a staff crunch to explain why it will be unable to supervise RWH. An official said, "The department is already stretched to the limit and has to handle other works like metering, supplying of water, maintenance of infrastructure, etc. It just does not have the resources to monitor implementation of rainwater harvesting."

Delhi needs a rainwater policy first and a plan to have RWH structures that can be monitored easily, say experts. "I think Delhi should look at largescale structures at the colony level where there can be underground rainwater harvesting pits in parks and other open spaces..They should tap wetlands, storm water drains and parks.

Each colony can see to it that no sewage enters their storm water drains so that they can be used for recharge. The government can institutionalize a monitoring system easily for these," Nitya Jacob,head of policy, WaterAid India, said.

The committee formed by NGT consists of officials from Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi government and Central Ground-Water Board.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK