Rajasthan State PCS

• 04 Jun 2024

New Rainwater Harvesting Rules in Rajasthan

Why in News?

Recently, Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation (RIICO) has issued a circular requiring all plot lessees with an area of 500 square meters and above to construct Rainwater Harvesting Structures on their premises.

Key Points

• The goal is to conserve water and increase groundwater levels in the state, which faces water scarcity due to its arid climate.
  • Groundwater depletion is a critical issue associated with groundwater use. It refers to long-term declines in water levels caused by sustained pumping of groundwater.
• If there’s a delay in constructing Rainwater Harvesting Structure, the lessee will be subject to penalties as prescribed by RIICO.
• The penalty amount varies based on plot size:
  • For plots between 500 sq m and 2,000 sq m: Rs 25,000 per annum.
  • For plots above 2,000 sq m: Rs 50,000 per annum.
• Besides RIICO, other departments are also implementing rainwater harvesting. For instance, the Rajasthan Police Housing and Construction Corporation Limited (RPH&CCL) is collecting rainwater from rooftops and surrounding areas to recharge existing wells and aquifers.
• The state government is also emphasizing tree plantation to further conserve water.