Caught between a deadline (December 31, 2011) and poor compliance by the public, the BWSSB has chosen the middle path in enforcing the rain water harvesting (RWH) mandate. The deadline will not be extended, and the BWSSB has already launched a disconnection drive. However, if a consumer gives a commitment in writing to install the RWH system before March 31, 2012, the water board will exempt him from disconnection till then. The letter must be submitted latest by January 31.

A clause in the government order that made RWH mandatory has a provision to extend the deadline if the consumer gives a written commitment to install the RWH system by a stipulated date. The BWSSB has already started collecting commitment letters from consumers in the South division. Further decision in regard to the disconnection drive is expected to be taken in a meeting of senior officials of the Board on January 10.

The BWSSB has identified 56,000 buildings (private and government) which had to install RWH by December 31, 2011. By his date, the rate of compliance was only 57 per cent. A huge number of government buildings remain uncovered under the scheme too. Out of a total of 2,553 government (state and union) buildings that had to install the RWH system, less than 500 have installed it so far.