Source: Central Groundwater Board, Faridabad

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) took a decision of taking Rs. 5000 from the seekers of building plan, as security money to ensure that these people implement rainwater harvesting system in their premises. This must be in response to the declining groundwater level in the city.

Bhopal is the second largest city in Madhya Pradesh after Indore with a population of 1.4 million according to 2001 census. Bhopal city is the most urbanized centre of the state with a rate of urbanization of about 80 %. In the past, the people of Bhopal depended on the rain fed Upper Lake for water supply. This is one of the oldest man made lakes built in the eleventh century during the time of Raja Bhoj. A major augmentation took place in 1989 with the development of Kolar dam about 30 Km away from the city. Apart from these sources, there are few other dams, which are used mainly for irrigation. A further augmentation of Kolar dam has been planned by BMC to meet the demand of population in 2021. In addition to this, water from Narmada River at Hoshangabad will be brought to Bhopal.

In the summer months, the BMC supplies water through tankers. Still this water supply cannot cope with the population density in the city and as a result people face severe water crisis. According to the official source, water supply is available only for 2 to 3 hours at a very low pressure but the true picture is still very meager. The increased rate of urbanization created a gap between municipal supply and demand of water. This resulted in more and more exploitation of groundwater. Although there are about 14 water bodies in and around the city but they are all under the threat of destruction.

A comprehensive rainwater harvesting can overcome the gap between supply and demand. The current piped water reaches only 67 % of the population. The system network requires repair and maintenance and the water treatment plants are also not running with full efficiency. As a result, the dependence on groundwater, which is not a sustainable source, is increasing day by day. The tube wells in the city run dry during the lean period.

Rainwater harvesting is already compulsory in the state of Madhya Pradesh but the database of people who have actually implemented the system in Bhopal was not available with the BMC. This situation has forced the BMC to think in a different way so that rainwater harvesting is ensured for all new building having rooftop area greater than 140 sq m. On 24 February, 2009, the BMC in its Mayor-in –Council (MIC) meet decided to take a security money of Rs. 5000 from the building permission seekers to ensure that they implement rainwater harvesting structures in their premises. If these new houses have the RWH system as directed then their money will be returned back, otherwise the BMC would construct the structure on its own.

To get back the security money, people have to get certificates from Architects (registered in the BMC panel). City planner Mr. Mudgal said that these people who will construct the system will get 6 % exemption on their property tax an action taken following the footsteps of Indore. The municipality can help the individuals in implementing the RWH system if they approach them. The BMC has its own standard design and the contractors registered in BMC can implement the structure. According to a Bhopal based NGO, Association for Motivation of Bio-Sphere and Environmental Revolution (AMBER), the BMC so far has failed to cross check whether the individuals or builders have implemented system following the original plan. “It is only on paper”, says Brijesh Namdeo of AMBER. According to Mr. Mudgal it will take time to make this decision a notification.

The system will surely help the BMC in keeping a proper track of the rainwater harvesting systems installed in the city.