The Delhi High Court has asked all civic agencies whether they have taken steps to encourage rainwater harvesting in the national capital and sought a detailed report from them on the current status of their initiatives.
A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar issued notice to Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), all the three municipal corporations and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and sought reports from them by August 17.
The notices were issued to the various agencies after the court noted that monsoon has already arrived in the national capital but none of the agencies have any policy to adopt rainwater harvesting systems in the city.
"I do not know why anybody is not interested in doing any job. By the time you will do, rain will be over," the bench said.
The court also said that while Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has indicated steps to be taken, it has not mentioned a timeline for the same.
The counsel for DJB said it has launched three rainwater harvesting information centres that will recommend the type of conservation practices to be adopted and also train plumbers and masons in designing such facilities.
"An NGO, working in the water sector, has partnered with the DJB to run the centres," DJB's counsel said.
The court was hearing a PIL by advocate R K Kapoor seeking implementation of rainwater harvesting units in the national capital, especially in government buildings and hospitals.
The bench also questioned whether rainwater harvesting systems have been installed in the court premises and in government buildings.
