The state government on Wednesday announced to undertake roof top rain water harvesting on a pilot basis in Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Titlagarh, Jharsuguda and Brajarajnagar in the first phase and the project will be expanded later. The government has set a target to spend Rs 100 crore on this project in a period of five years. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat. The total number of buildings to be covered under the scheme includes 550 government buildings and 16,405 private buildings. Private organizations will be provided a subsidy up to Rs 45,000 maximum for implementing the project. Its implementation will be mandatory in newly constructed government buildings and quarters. Water Resources department of the state government will provide technical assistance for undertaking these projects. Unemployed graduates and diploma holders in agriculture, civil, mechanical and environmental engineering will be provided specialized training for these projects and will be empanelled as consultants with the Water Resources department. Interested private building owners wishing to benefit under the scheme need to apply with their respective municipal authorities in their areas. Chief secretary GC Pati, secretary of water resources department PK Jena and other concerned officials were present in the meeting.