Hyderabad: Rainwater harvesting pits need to be set up on all structures with more than 300sq metre of area in the next six months, minister of municipal administration and urban development K.T. Rama Rao said on Saturday.
Defaulting property owners and the officer concerned will be penalised, he said.
The water conservation programme called Jalam Jeevam (Water – Life) is aimed at ridding the city of the water scarcity problem.
Mr Rao advised the HMWSS and GHMC officials to create awareness and sensitise the public about the campaign and motivate people to ensure that rainwater pits are created on a war-footing. The minister initiated a rain water harvesting system at Chandanagar and later gave a presentation on the water scarcity at ‘Mana Nagaram’ (Our City) programme of Serilingampalli constituency at Vishwanath Gardens in Miyapur.
Mr Rao said, “We are aware that the drainage system on the outskirts of the city is not good. The new underground drainage system will be set up in urban areas with a budget of Rs 3,100 crore. We are providing drinking water funds of '2,000 crore to the city residents.”
The minister said, “Hyderabad has a 1.25 crore population, including the floating population. If we have to become a global city on par with New York, Hyderabadis need to have sense of ownership and give up on ‘Chalta hai’ attitude. Community participation is very important.”
Mr Rao interacted with citizens where representatives of residential welfare associations and NGOs brought various issues to the notice of the minister who instructed officials concerned to address the issues at the earliest. Citizens and representatives of organisations working towards rain water harvesting, waste segregation, maintaining cleanliness, promoting greenery were felicitated.
Meanwhile, the minister formally inaugurated a ‘puppy and stray dog adoption programme’.
