Reference only — not legal advice. This page is EarthReheal WasteLedger's plain-language interpretation of the rule, written to help organisations understand what may apply to them. It can be incomplete or inaccurate. Always read the official gazette notification or statute, and confirm with your regulator or a qualified adviser, before relying on it for compliance decisions.
Quick Summary
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a state matter. In most states it is a condition of building plan approval, so it applies to new buildings. A few states also bind existing buildings above a plot size. These are Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.
EarthReheal WasteLedger applies this rule if you have an RWH structure, or if your state's law requires one for your site. You then get two checks: keep the installation record on file, and log the structure's maintenance.
What This Rule Is
- Karnataka (Bengaluru). Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act, 2009, section 72A.
- Applies to plots of 2,400 sq ft and above for existing buildings, and 1,200 sq ft and above for new buildings.
- Covers the BWSSB area only.
- Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2003, later an Act, and the TN Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. Applies to all buildings, new and existing.
- Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002, section 17(1). Applies to plots of 200 sq m and above.
- Delhi.
- Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2016: plots of 100 sq m and above at approval.
- Delhi Jal Board tariff conditions: a penalty on plots of 500 sq m and above that have no working RWH.
- Other states. Building bye-laws or development control regulations require RWH when a plan is approved, with different plot thresholds. Examples:
- Maharashtra UDCPR 2020;
- Gujarat CGDCR 2017;
- Telangana G.O.Ms. 168;
- Kerala Municipality Building Rules 2019;
- Haryana Building Code 2017;
- Madhya Pradesh Bhumi Vikas Rules 2012, rule 78(4).
- CGWA. A holder of a CGWA groundwater no-objection certificate must also carry out the RWH or recharge plan submitted with its application. Source: CGWA Guidelines, S.O. 3289(E), 24 September 2020.
Who This Applies To
- Sites with an RWH structure. The checks keep the structure working and documented.
- Existing sites in Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi above the plot threshold. The rule applies even if you have not declared a structure, so a missing one shows as a gap. EarthReheal WasteLedger works this out from your premises state and plot area.
State-Level Variations
Thresholds, the authority that enforces them and the penalties differ by state and city. The state-by-state figures above come mainly from secondary sources (law firms and government summaries). Confirm the current bye-law with your local body or development authority.
Compliance Requirements — What You Actually Have to Do
- Keep the installation record on file. This can be the completion certificate, the approved drawing showing the RWH structure, or the water board's inspection note.
- Maintain the structure. Clean gutters, filters and recharge pits before the monsoon, check that the pits drain, and log it.
- CGWA no-objection holders: keep evidence that the recharge plan in your no-objection certificate has been carried out.
Penalties & Enforcement
- Bengaluru: a surcharge of 25% of water charges for three months, then 50%, until the RWH structure is installed.
- Delhi: the Delhi Jal Board charges 1.5 times the water bill on plots of 500 sq m and above that have no RWH.
- Elsewhere: local bodies can refuse or withdraw approvals and water connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Our building is old and our state only requires RWH for new buildings. Do we have to install one? A: Not under the bye-law. If you have a structure, maintaining it is good practice, and a CGWA no-objection certificate may require it.
Q: We don't have a borewell. Does this still apply? A: Yes, where your state requires RWH for your site. This rule is separate from the groundwater (CGWA) rule.
Q: How do you know our plot area? A: From your premises details (plot area), or from the site area on your organisation record. Update it in the Compliance Hub under Premises details.
Government / Official Sources
- Central Ground Water Authority guidelines (S.O. 3289(E), 24 September 2020): cgwa-noc.gov.in
- Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, rainwater harvesting: bwssb.karnataka.gov.in
Related Rules
- RULE_CGWA — groundwater extraction and the CGWA no-objection certificate.
- RULE_BUILDING_OCCUPANCY — building plan approval and occupancy, where the RWH condition is first set.