TN to go strict on rainwater harvesting

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced that her government would strictly implement the law that makes rainwater harvesting facility mandatory for all new buildings in Tamil Nadu. Replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for Municipal Administration and Rural Development Department, Municipal Administration Minister K P Munusamy said groundwater table had gone up in many areas and the quality of underground water improved due to rainwater harvesting. Adding to the Minister’s statement, the Chief Minister said that during the previous AIADMK regime, rainwater harvesting facility was made mandatory for all buildings but the DMK regime failed to implement it. Now, this norm would be implemented strictly.The then AIADMK government had issued an ordinance on July 23, 2003 making it mandatory for all buildings to have rainwater harvesting structures.