The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) and State Environment Assessment Committee (SEAC) have framed guidelines and norms for the builders. However, most of the builders are flouting the norms and are building residential complexes without any space for rainwater harvesting.

“The environment department has made rainwater harvesting mandatory for projects with or more than 20,000 square meter built-up spaces. There are some builders who have come to us with the problems they are facing. Since they have initiated the issue, we are trying to find a solution for them. A government body consisting of experts has been set up to help them out,” said Principal Secretary M L Meena, department of environment.

However, most of the big builders are either not aware of these norms and guidelines or cannot afford to include rainwater harvesting in their existing or upcoming projects.

“We are trying to follow the guidelines framed by the WBPCB. As far as rainwater harvesting is concerned, it has not been implemented in our projects till now since it incurs a huge cost. In Rajarhat residential complexes we could not manage to have the space for rainwater harvesting, but in our upcoming projects we are trying to have that,” said Sankalan Dutta, marketing manger, Bengal Shelter Housing Development Ltd.

“If rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory by the WBPCB, then it is certainly being adhered to. It is yet to be implemented for several reasons but in future we will try to follow the guidelines,” said a senior official of the Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Ltd.

Other builders pump out groundwater and use it as the major source of water in the housing projects, which is a big detriment to the environment.

“Groundwater level has depleted in an alarming rate. It is time to take prompt action otherwise it will be too late to save the environment and also the denizens of the city. Rainwater harvesting is really essential to minimise the use of groundwater as soon as possible. We have submitted the reports on this. Now it is up to the policy makers to implement it,” said Dr Debopriyo Mukherjee, scientist, Central Pollution Control Board.

WBPCB and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) are supposed to monitor whether there is provision for rainwater harvesting in newly-built residential complexes. But apparently, no such monitoring is done and as a result the builders are having a field day.

“If the PCB norms are violated by any builder then the company will be penalised and will not be awarded the environmental clearance certificate. WBPCB monitors the condition. The KMC is also supposed to monitor it. But I don’t have a clear picture how they are doing it,” said Meena.