December 31 will remain the deadline for installing rainwater harvesting (RWH) system, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board Minister S Suresh Kumar said on Thursday.
However, he said a decision on the extension of the deadline would be taken on January 1 next.
“I am aware of the BBMP Commissioner’s initiative in the council meeting to extend the deadline for another three months. But we need to discuss the matter at the Board level, too. The deadline has been extended many times previously and there has been a request to extend it further. Depending on the situation, we will act,” he said.
Kumar said he was also receiving objections from some people who had misunderstood the water board’s advertisement on rainwater harvesting as a threat to the public.
“It is unfortunate that people are taking it as a threat. Somewhere, the Board has gone wrong in educating the public about the importance of rainwater harvesting in the City,” he said.
“Bangalore is facing a water crisis and we as citizens should find a solution to the growing demand for water. Adopting RWH systems will only help ease water supply.
Disconnecting water supply is the last resort for the BWSSB; there need not be any apprehension in people’s mind, as the water board will give enough time to every household to install RWH structures,” he added.