Panaji: The Goa government has taken a series of measures to strengthen rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge in the state, including making rooftop rainwater harvesting mandatory for large residential, commercial, and government buildings, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a starred question tabled by BJP MLA Krishna Salkar during the ongoing Winter Session of the House, Shirodkar said the Water Resources Department has been implementing post-monsoon water harvesting in rivers, nallahs, and streams by constructing water conservation structures such as dams and bandharas.
He added that the department has also undertaken rooftop rainwater harvesting in office complexes, schools, and other institutions, besides constructing rainwater harvesting pits to aid groundwater recharge.
The minister informed the House that the state government has notified a rainwater harvesting policy through an official gazette notification dated December 1, 2022, to promote groundwater recharge, particularly in urban areas and public institutions.
As per the notified policy, rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory for:
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Residential complexes, including apartments, built on plot areas of 2,000 square metres and above
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Commercial complexes on plots of 1,500 square metres and above
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Industrial units on plots of 10,000 square metres and above
The requirement also applies to all government buildings, schools, and colleges.
However, users who incorporate sewage treatment plants or wastewater recycling processes where grey water is reused are exempted from the mandatory inclusion of rainwater harvesting structures, Shirodkar said.
The minister stated that the government is actively expanding rainwater harvesting initiatives as part of its broader water conservation strategy. Under the “Catch the Rain 2025” campaign, the government plans to equip most government schools and government buildings with rooftop rainwater harvesting systems.
