NGT seeks report on rainwater harvesting

NGT seeks report on rainwater harvesting

Context:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently directed the Delhi government to submit within three weeks a report on the number of flyovers here having rainwater harvesting systems.

Why is in news?

• The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Mehrauli resident Vinod Kumar Jain who sought directions to make it compulsory for all government buildings of 100 square metres and above to have rainwater harvesting systems.
• Earlier, the NGT had rapped the State government for not submitting the detailed report.
• The green panel had also directed the Centre and other public authorities to ensure that the rainwater harvesting systems are installed in every project including flyovers and bridges.

Rain water harvesting:

• Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to run off.
• Rainwater can be collected from rivers or roofs, and in many places, the water collected is redirected to a deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), a reservoir with percolation, or collected from dew or fog with nets or other tools.
• Its uses include water for gardens, livestock, irrigation, domestic use with proper treatment, indoor heating for houses, etc.
• The harvested water can also be used as drinking water longer-term storage, and for other purposes such as groundwater recharge.