MCG probes rainwater harvesting pits

GURGAON: MCG has initiated a probe into the construction of rainwater harvesting pits in the city. According to authorities, most of the 69 pits are not in working condition. A total of 211 rainwater harvesting systems were to be built in 2011. “We decided to conduct the probe after we received a complaint from the superintending engineer. All executive engineers have been asked to submit lists of rainwater harvesting pits in their respective areas, along with their status of maintenance,” said a senior official. According to MCG officials, most of the officials at helm when the project was commissioned in 2011, have been transferred. tnn”It is very difficult to fix responsibility on any official, as they keep getting transferred every now and then. About Rs 43 crore was spent on constructing these 69 structures. We will take necessary action against those who did not construct the required number of such structures,” he said.

MCG has also promised to build new rainwater harvesting systems in the coming days. “We want to make use of rainwater this monsoon. Once the probe report is submitted, we will know how many we need, and where. We will accordingly plan to build these systems wherever required. Executive engineers have been asked to identify areas in the city that require these immediately. Our effort will be to conserve as much rainwater as possible, and improved groundwater level in the city,” an engineering department official said.