Urban local bodies told to ensure water harvesting, green cover

In a bid to improve ground water level in the state's urban areas, the state government has ordered all urban local bodies – municipal corporations, urban development authorities and municipalities – to immediately create a system at the local level for maximum ground water recharge, ensuring water harvesting and take up plantations to improve green cover in the cities.

A highly-placed source in the state government said, "Considering the serious fall in ground water level in urban areas across the state, the government had issued several orders for improving ground water level during the last eight years, but the situation has improved very little due to lack of seriousness on the part of ULBs on the issue. The state assembly's Estimate Committee has noticed during its field study that the state government's orders for tackling water scarcity and environment conservation have been ignored by the ULBs. The committee has also noticed that the ULBs are not undertaking proper tree plantations in the city as per the city GDCRs; so the government has decided to create a separate system at all ULBs which will ensure action for ground water recharge, effect water harvesting and ensure tree plantation as per the GDCRs.''

The source further said, "All ULBs have been ordered to file quarterly review reports of ground water conservation and tree plantation. Municipal Commissioners, CEOs in UDAs and chief officer in municipalities will be responsible for achieving results. They will have to review water harvesting mechanism and plantations as per the GDCRs before issuing completion and building use certificates, and also review them on regular intervals. The authorities will have to generate awareness among people and elected representatives. They will be allowed to create funds and involve voluntary organisations also.''

The Gujarat Urban Development Mission (GUDM) has been made the state- level nodal agency for monitoring the action taken by municipal corporations and UDAs, and for municipalities the director of municipalities will act as the nodal agency. Both the agencies will have to prepare and submit quarterly reports to the government.

Kapil Dave/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication