06 April,2016 10:32 PM IST | | Tanvi Deshpande
It seems the BMC is looking at long-term solutions for the city's water woes. It will soon be mandatory for properties larger than 500 sq mts to do rainwater harvesting.
It seems the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is looking at long-term solutions for the city's water woes. It will soon be mandatory for properties larger than 500 sq mts to do rainwater harvesting.
The BMC on Wednesday came out with three more chapters of its draft Development Control Regulations, with chapter 12 enlisting this provision. The chapters have been released on its website and citizens have one week to submit their suggestions and objections.
Every drop counts: Rainwater harvesting is more of a plumbing job than a technical job. Make sure your building has a facility for two tanks that can be used to purify and store water. File pic
The BMC is currently working on the draft of its DP 2034 and this provision is a part of this process. It has released three new chapters of the DCR and citizens have time until April 14 to submit their suggestions and objections.
The 9th chapter deals with fire safety and structural stability. The 11th chapter speaks of temporary construction and repairs. Chapter 12 has several measures such as:
1. Rainwater harvesting to be made mandatory for plots larger than 500 sq mts
2. Solar water heating system to be provided in hotels and hospitals. Can also be provided voluntarily in other buildings
3. Voluntary provision of gray water system and sewage treatment plant
4. Provision for waste segregation and composting of wet waste
5. If trees are felled, twice the number have to be planted
6 Definition of highrise to be beyond 32 metres
Citizens can submit suggestions and objections on ee.dpr.mcgm.dcr@gmail.com with 'draft DCR 2014-2034' in the subject line
Every time there is a water shortage owing to insufficient rainfall, Mumbai's civic body makes rainwater harvesting mandatory for new projects, but it fails to implement it. In 2002, the BMC made it mandatory for all new constructions above 1,000 square metres to install rainwater harvesting system to obtain their occupation certificate (OC). In 2007, this rule was extended to buildings over 300 square metres. But with no method to enforce the implementation of the law, the move ended up being a damp squib.
