Pune Sees Surge in Tax Discounts for Rainwater Harvesting
WATER & WASTE

Pune Sees Surge in Tax Discounts for Rainwater Harvesting

In Pune, the number of property owners receiving tax discounts for implementing rainwater harvesting has surged nearly tenfold over the past decade, although overall adoption remains limited. In the fiscal year 2012-2013, only 306 properties availed tax benefits specifically for rainwater harvesting. This number jumped to 3,716 by 2022-2023, reflecting a growing awareness and uptake of the practice.

The municipal administration has offered a tax rebate of up to 10% for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, as well as solar and vermicomposting units. However, the response to solar and vermicomposting units has been significantly higher compared to rainwater harvesting.

In 2012-2013, a total of 23,173 properties received tax discounts for all three categories—rainwater harvesting, solar, and vermicomposting. This number rose to 1,11,213 by 2022-2023, indicating a substantial increase in overall tax benefits claimed.

Despite these incentives, the adoption of rainwater harvesting systems remains lower than anticipated. In response to water scarcity issues highlighted in recent state assembly discussions, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized the need for mandatory rainwater harvesting systems in new constructions and called for a review of the current policy.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has actively promoted rainwater harvesting since 2006, making it a requirement for all new building permissions. The PMC has also installed these systems in various public properties, including its headquarters, civic schools, ward offices, and hospitals.

With approximately 12.5 lakh properties in PMC areas liable for property tax, there is potential for wider adoption of rainwater harvesting. Around 2 lakh private properties have the capacity to install such systems, a number that could increase to around 3 lakh with the inclusion of newly merged areas.

PMC has also issued guidelines for commercial establishments, food joints, and educational institutions, urging them to focus on water recycling and reduce wastage. Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC's water supply department, stressed the importance of rainwater harvesting and proper maintenance of water tanks and taps to further conserve water resources.

Overall, while the increase in tax discounts is a positive step, broader adoption of rainwater harvesting remains crucial for addressing Pune's water scarcity challenges. 

In Pune, the number of property owners receiving tax discounts for implementing rainwater harvesting has surged nearly tenfold over the past decade, although overall adoption remains limited. In the fiscal year 2012-2013, only 306 properties availed tax benefits specifically for rainwater harvesting. This number jumped to 3,716 by 2022-2023, reflecting a growing awareness and uptake of the practice.The municipal administration has offered a tax rebate of up to 10% for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, as well as solar and vermicomposting units. However, the response to solar and vermicomposting units has been significantly higher compared to rainwater harvesting.In 2012-2013, a total of 23,173 properties received tax discounts for all three categories—rainwater harvesting, solar, and vermicomposting. This number rose to 1,11,213 by 2022-2023, indicating a substantial increase in overall tax benefits claimed.Despite these incentives, the adoption of rainwater harvesting systems remains lower than anticipated. In response to water scarcity issues highlighted in recent state assembly discussions, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized the need for mandatory rainwater harvesting systems in new constructions and called for a review of the current policy.The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has actively promoted rainwater harvesting since 2006, making it a requirement for all new building permissions. The PMC has also installed these systems in various public properties, including its headquarters, civic schools, ward offices, and hospitals.With approximately 12.5 lakh properties in PMC areas liable for property tax, there is potential for wider adoption of rainwater harvesting. Around 2 lakh private properties have the capacity to install such systems, a number that could increase to around 3 lakh with the inclusion of newly merged areas.PMC has also issued guidelines for commercial establishments, food joints, and educational institutions, urging them to focus on water recycling and reduce wastage. Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC's water supply department, stressed the importance of rainwater harvesting and proper maintenance of water tanks and taps to further conserve water resources.Overall, while the increase in tax discounts is a positive step, broader adoption of rainwater harvesting remains crucial for addressing Pune's water scarcity challenges. 

Next Story
Equipment

Handling concrete better

Efficiently handling the transportation and placement of concrete is essential to help maintain the quality of construction, meet project timelines by minimising downtimes, and reduce costs – by 5 to 15 per cent, according to Sandeep Jain, Director, Arkade Developers. CW explores what the efficient handling of concrete entails.Select wellFirst, a word on choosing the right equipment, such as a mixer with a capacity aligned to the volume required onsite, from Vaibhav Kulkarni, Concrete Expert. “An overly large mixer will increase the idle time (and cost), while one that ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Elevated floors!

Raised access flooring, also called false flooring, is a less common interiors feature than false ceilings, but it has as many uses – if not more.A raised floor is a modular panel installed above the structural floor. The space beneath the raised flooring is typically used to accommodate utilities such as electrical cables, plumbing and HVAC systems. And so, raised flooring is usually associated with buildings with heavy cabling and precise air distribution needs, such as data centres.That said, CW interacted with designers and architects and discovered that false flooring can come in handy ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

The Variation Challenge

A variation or change in scope clause is defined in construction contracts to take care of situations arising from change in the defined scope of work. Such changes may arise due to factors such as additions or deletions in the scope of work, modifications in the type, grade or specifications of materials, alterations in specifications or drawings, and acts or omissions of other contractors. Further, ineffective planning, inadequate investigations or surveys and requests from the employer or those within the project’s area of influence can contribute to changes in the scope of work. Ext..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?