Gurugram: It has now been more than eight years since Gurugram was declared a dark zone which implies to the region having low groundwater reserves.
After the concern expressed by the Chief Minister ML Khattar, now government agencies have begun to take measures towards enhancing the groundwater reserves.
To effectively implement the Zero Rainwater Discharge plan approved by the state government this week, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) has decided to ensure that individual houses, group housing complexes, and commercial buildings in private colonies have a functional rainwater harvesting system as per
rules.
Occupancy certificates of properties that violate the rules prescribed for rainwater harvesting will be cancelled, said KM Pandurang, director, DTCP. Teams from the DTCP will start inspecting rainwater harvesting facilities in various residential and commercial complexes across the city.
There are over 125 pits that come under the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram. However, lack of proper maintenance and inability to check encroachments have ensured that these pits have not been of any utility.
Last year with the aid of a private organisation the municipal body had started the process of cleaning the pits. However, in the later months, this exercise gradually fizzled out.
The district administration had also directed various private schools that have a large area to create water harvesting pits.
However, this action was also not followed up.
The push for rainwater harvesting comes in the wake of Haryana chief minister(CM) Manohar Lal Khattar strongly advocating zero rainwater discharge system in Gurugram.
Moreover, a project that will be overseen by the Chief Minister wherein sewage water will be treated for usage.
HUDA department will keep a record of treated water taken by each builder from its Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and whether it was sufficient to meet its needs.