Ranchi: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has directed property owners across the city to immediately install rainwater harvesting systems on all eligible premises. Failure to comply will invite strict administrative action, including disconnection of municipal facilities and services.The directive is based on the Jharkhand Rainwater Harvesting Regulation, 2017, which makes it mandatory for owners of plots measuring 300 square metres or more to install and maintain functional rainwater harvesting structures.Civic officials said the enforcement drive aims to recharge Ranchi’s rapidly depleting groundwater table, promote water conservation and prevent severe water shortages in the future.Property owners whose rainwater harvesting systems are damaged or non-functional have also been instructed to repair them immediately and restore them in accordance with official engineering standards.Additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Kumar said a survey by the civic body had found that a significant number of eligible properties did not have functional rainwater harvesting systems. “Citizens should voluntarily install these systems at the earliest and contribute to environmental sustainability,” Kumar said.He added that municipal teams would soon begin citywide field inspections to verify compliance and assess the functioning of rainwater harvesting systems in residential and commercial properties.“In case of non-compliance, action will be taken against property owners, and they will be deprived of facilities provided by the corporation,” Kumar said.Officials said the drive would be guided by prior notices and field inspection reports. However, prolonged non-compliance would not be tolerated.Under the 2017 regulation, property owners are responsible not only for installing rainwater harvesting systems but also for ensuring that contaminated water or wastewater does not enter recharge pits, as this could pollute groundwater.The rules empower the govt to impose progressive penalties on defaulting property owners or builders. The penalty is equivalent to 25% of the water bill for the first three months, rises to 50% from the fourth month and reaches 100% of the bill after six months.
