5% rebate in property tax for buildings having rainwater harvesting fails to take off

With just about a month to go for monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's plans of giving a 5% rebate on property tax for buildings which have a working rainwater harvesting system has failed to take off. The civic body is yet to formulate guidelines that will ensure there is a proper monitoring system in place.

Last week, former municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte had written to Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale that providing a rebate on property tax for such buildings would not be possible because the BMC has not received clear directives on the issue from the state government. Last year, Shewale had written to Kunte, demanding the rebate, and had said the move would encourage citizens to set up rainwater harvesting systems in their buildings.
Senior civic officials said the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act does have a provision for giving rebates to buildings having the system. "However, no clear policy has been framed for that. There's no monitoring system in place for people who are required to keep tab on the proper functioning of the harvesting system and the certification process of such buildings," an official said.

The official added that the BMC had written to the state on the issue but is yet to receive a reply.

Realising the seriousness of the depleting groundwater levels, the BMC has made rainwater harvesting compulsory for buildings coming up on plots measuring more than 300 square meters. However, the rule has not seen proper implementation as most constructions in city flout norms and come up without an effective harvesting mechanism in place.

Incentives for going green
As per the new property tax rules, implemented from April 1, 2010, the BMC has made certain provisions for rebate in property tax for green buildings. Societies having rainwater harvesting system, waste segregation mechanism, waste composting facility and grey water plants will be eligible for incentives in property tax.