Delhi renovates 1,200 rainwater harvesting systems to boost groundwater recharge

The Delhi Jal Board has renovated nearly 1,200 rainwater harvesting systems across the national capital to improve groundwater recharge, officials told news agency Press Trust of India.The water management agency has also decided to maintain the systems and inspect them regularly to ensure they remain functional. The Delhi government is also planning a Rainwater Harvesting Policy 2026 to increase groundwater recharge and control urban flooding.Of the renovated systems, 500 belong to other departments, including schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. "We have decided to maintain all these systems and conduct regular inspections," a senior DJB official told PTI.Under building by-laws, all buildings constructed in Delhi since 2001 on plots measuring 100 square metres or more must have a rainwater harvesting system. However, despite several government efforts, such systems have not been adopted widely. The proposed Rainwater Harvesting Policy 2026 will be aligned with the Master Plan Delhi-2047. "The policy connects rainwater harvesting with drainage and flood management, tackling waterlogging and groundwater recharge together," officials told PTI.Water Minister Parvesh Verma has directed DJB officials to jointly inspect government premises. The inspections will ensure that existing rainwater harvesting systems are made functional and new ones are installed in every government building. The DJB offers two incentives to encourage property owners to install such systems. It provides financial assistance of Rs 25,000 for plots measuring between 100 and 500 square metres and up to Rs 50,000 for plots larger than 500 square metres. Property owners can also receive a 10 per cent rebate on their monthly water bills.The renovation and regular maintenance of nearly 1,200 systems, along with the proposed policy and financial incentives, are aimed at expanding rainwater harvesting, improving groundwater recharge and addressing urban flooding in Delhi.- Ends