Only 1 in 5 Bengaluru homes adopt rainwater harvesting

21 Mar 2024 CW Team

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) believes that if everyone in Bengaluru had opted for rainwater harvesting (RWH), the water situation in the city wouldn't be as dire as it is now, with only about 0.2 million out of 1.08 million homes having installed RWH systems.

BWSSB has imposed penalties totalling nearly Rs 20 million on 40,000 households for not installing RWH systems, hoping that might encourage people to embrace the sustainable solution. The West zone, encompassing areas like Nagarbhavi, RPC Layout, Vijayanagar, and Rajarajeshwari Nagar, tops the list with 12,796 non-compliant homes, facing penalties of up to Rs 5.1 million. The East zone follows closely with 11,475 violations, but higher penalties totalling Rs 5.9 have been imposed.

According to Suresh B, the engineer-in-chief of BWSSB, RWH has been mandatory for houses built on plots larger than 60x40ft since December 2011. In 2020, it was also made mandatory for houses on plots measuring 30x40ft, with penalties for violations.

For domestic connections, BWSSB imposes a 50% penalty on water consumption bills for the first three months and 100% thereafter. For commercial connections, the penalty is 100% for three months and 200% afterwards.

Arun Bala Rao, residing in Jayanagar, mentioned that his house has benefited from RWH, leading to reduced water shortage. Sheela Nagarajun from Rajarajeshwari Nagar also stated that they use harvested rainwater for various household purposes.

However, despite the benefits, many residents consider RWH as an expense rather than a long-term investment. This perception contributes to lower adoption rates, particularly among households with smaller dimensions facing acute water shortages.

Products

06 Oct 2025

TOTO India Launches Premium G & L Showers with Sleek Faucet Range

TOTO India has launched its G Shower and L Shower series, alongside an expanded range of GT, LH, and Pull-Out lavatory faucets. The collection blends advanced technology, refined aesthetics, and everyday comfort, staying true to TOTO’s philosophy of creating spaces that are both beautiful and functional. The G Shower series delivers the 3Rs of showering: Relaxing, Refreshing, and Revitalizing. Features include the Calming Shawl spray mode, Warm Spa technology, and multiple overhead and hand-shower options across eight finishes. The L Shower complements this with easy-to-use controls sui..

Hero Future Energies Secures Funding for 120 MW Hybrid Project

Hero Future Energies (HFE), through its SPV Clean Renewable Energy Hybrid Three, has secured Rs 19.08 billion in funding from the State Bank of India (lead) and Canara Bank. The funds will be used to develop and construct HFE’s 120 MW renewable energy hybrid project at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The project, contracted with SJVN, integrates wind, solar, and storage technologies to deliver reliable peak power. With a 21-year repayment period, the funding ensures timely execution and the commencement of commercial operations. The financial closure demonstrates continued lender confidence in..

IOC GPS Renewables Raises Rs 8.36 billion Debt for Compressed Biogas Plants

IOC GPS Renewables Private Limited (IGRPL), a joint venture between IndianOil Corporation and GPS Renewables, has raised Rs 8.36 billion (approx. US$ 95 million) in debt financing from Indian Bank to execute nine Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects across India. The funding is the largest single-bank debt raise in the CBG sector and the first fully non-recourse financing in India for these projects. The plants—four in Haryana, three in Uttar Pradesh, one each in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh—will each produce 15 tonnes of CBG per day using paddy straw as feedstock. All nin..