As many as 18 builders and owners of seven industrial units in Raipur district would now face action for not complying with the Raipur district administration’s order of installing rain water harvesting systems within the stipulated time frame, officials informed. The district administration had directed all the builders and industrial units in Raipur district to install rain water harvesting system to arrest the rapid decline in ground water levels. Raipur District Collector O P Choudhary has written a letter to the Joint Director of City Investment Department and the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) urging action against the non-compliant builders and industrial units in Raipur district. Early this month, Choudhary had directed officials to identify the builders who have not yet installed rain water harvesting systems to commence the process of blacklisting them. Notably in June this year, Choudhary had also directed officials to compulsorily put up rain water harvesting systems in all the government office buildings at the Collectorate, District Panchayat and Tesil levels. In a meeting, the Collector had informed that houses for Government officers and employees are to be constructed by Chhattisgarh Housing Board in all the development blocks of the district. He had also directed officials to take up plantation of saplings on a mission mode in the premises of Government office buildings, schools and Anganwadis. Notably, Chhattisgarh Housing Board (CGHB) is installing Rain Water Harvesting System at residential houses for the staff of General Administration Department (GAD) at Sector-17 in the new capital. Housing and Environment Minister Rajesh Munat on May 5 this year had also directed officers to get installed rainwater harvesting system in all under-construction projects of the State government. The directive was issued during a State-level workshop of officers heading different construction projects, townships and area development projects held in Raipur last month. He had also asked the officers to submit sewerage treatment plan for their respective projects with the department within three months. The Minister told gathering that the process for getting permissions for townships and area development projects will be simplified; however, prior to the beginning of construction works taking environmental clearances is a must. Stern action will be taken against Government or non-governmental agencies violating the rules, he had warned. “The lay-outs of different construction projects will not be approved without environmental clearances,” Munat said. Referring to continuously receding ground water level in Chhattisgarh he said that the dropping water level can be controlled through rain water harvesting system. “We will have to think about ways to use the recycled water from water treatment plants; then only we could really solve water shortage problem in times ahead”, he said. Stressing over water conservation, he asked Chhattisgarh Housing Board, Raipur Development Authority, Naya Raipur Development Authority and all government offices to get installed rain water harvesting system. Member Secretary of CECB Devendra Singh had stated that rain water needs to be conserved because if we do not conserve water now it could lead to serious water shortage. The Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) will soon take up conservation of water bodies in the new Capital region. The NRDA has commenced the process of planning and designing for the development of 'Ecological Green and Dense Environmental Corridor' in the new capital region.