No follow-up by DJB on implementing rainwater harvesting, says High Court

“There has been no follow-up report. We want a detailed status report with regard to the current status (of rainwater harvesting). We also want to know what targets you (DJB) have put in place and what you have achieved. Indicate the actual position vis-a-vis the targets,” a Bench of justices Badar <g data-gr-id="33">Durrez</g> Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva said.

The court also said that while DJB has indicated steps to be taken, it has not mentioned a timeline for the same.

The court directed Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to file the affidavit indicating the details sought by the Bench before the next date of hearing on October 14. In its recent affidavit, DJB has stated that in order to promote rainwater harvesting in the city, it had requested various government departments to adopt the system in their buildings.

It has also said that it plans to run a “<g data-gr-id="30">360 degree</g> media campaign” to inform, educate and persuade Delhiites to adopt rainwater harvesting (RWH). It said the campaign will be extensively carried out through print, electronic, outdoor and social media and for this advertising agencies have been asked to submit layouts, scripts, jingles, messages, etc which would be printed on water bills.

The court was hearing a PIL by advocate R K Kapoor seeking implementation of RWH system in the national Capital, especially in government buildings and hospitals.

The court had earlier directed DJB to give wide publicity to RWH and to make it attractive, by offering rebates, to encourage people to implement it. DJB in its recent affidavit has told the court that it offers 10 <g data-gr-id="27">per cent</g> rebate on water bills of those consumers who adopt RWH.