The Council of Engineers has filed a petition against gross violation of mandatory provisions of Punjab Model Building Bye-laws for providing Rain Water Harvesting/Recharge Wells at Public Buildings/Places as well as private buildings. The State of Punjab through the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Local Government Department & Housing & Urban Affairs, MCL, LIT & GLADA have been made respondents in this case.

Er. Kapil Arora informed that the provisions of Rain Water Harvesting is mandatory for private buildings constructed over land area of 100 Sq meters as well as for all sizes of Commercial and Industrial buildings, however the concerned officials of all three Development Authorities i.e. MCL, LIT & GLADA have blatantly limited their role & duty to collect refundable security deposits at the time approval of buildings plans only as they do not verify the compliance of mandatory installation of RWH in the buildings. 

Er. Kapil Arora informed that the provisions of Rain Water Harvesting is mandatory for private buildings constructed over land area of 100 Sq meters as well as for all sizes of Commercial and Industrial buildings, however the concerned officials of all three Development Authorities i.e. MCL, LIT & GLADA have blatantly limited their role & duty to collect refundable security deposits at the time approval of buildings plans only as they do not verify the compliance of mandatory installation of RWH in the buildings.

It is pertinent to mention here that as heard, more than 50 crores has been collected by MCL only but same is being syphoned into other works. As already held by Hon’ble Apex Court, Development Works should be done but not at the cost of damage to Environment.

Er. Kulwant Singh Rai informed that groundwater extraction in Punjab has increased from 149% (of naturally available recharge) in 2013 to 165% in 2018. It is a matter of serious concern because groundwater depletion at a rapid rate will affect the flow of river and stream which will lead to disruption of aquatic ecosystems and global food security.

It is a well known fact that Ludhiana receives an average Rainfall of 680mm in a year and with technical and scientific way of installation of RWH in buildings and along roadsides, around 50% of water being used for domestic consumption can be recharged into groundwater table.

Er. Punjab Singh informed that besides private buildings, as per clause 10.4 of byelaws, the open spaces/recreational land use generally constitute regional parks, district parks, playground and stadium, sports complex, monument zones, public parking, Plaza and other public open space. All such public open spaces above the size of 500 sq.m. shall have arrangements for complete utilization and capture of storm water with scientific rain water harvesting arrangements. However, RWH system is missing in all Office buildings of MCL & LIT. 

Er. Mohit Jain informed that thousands of illegal buildings as well as illegal colonies have come up in Ludhiana where Storm Water Drainage/RWH/RW has not been provided. Due to missing RWH/RW as well as concretization of Road sides, the waterlogging on Roads damaged them badly due to which roads are being repaired and reconstructed before their actual life span, thus there is exploitation of natural resources like aggregates, bitumen & fuel for hot mix plants.

Er. Arora further informed that Since the Act of violation of Building Byelaws by Respondents is against Environment Norms, well-established Environment Norms, Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as well as Environment Protection Act, 1986, we have moved NGT with plea of constitution of Monitoring Committee for installation of RWH/RW in technical & scientific way by MCL, LIT & GLADA in true spirit. We have submitted one drawing of Recharge Well for Public Place along with our petition too. Further we have submitted a proposal of installation of Common RWH by making a network of front Roof Top Rainwater pipes in existing old buildings for consideration by Hon’ble NGT.