Question

__________ _ is the first and the only state in India, which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structures and is compulsory to all the houses across the state.
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Maharashtra
D) Madhya Pradesh

Answer 1

Hint: Rainwater harvesting is the method of gathering rainwater from roofs, guiding it to a suitable spot, and storing it for later use. On average, one two-hour rainstorm saves 8,000 litres of water.

Complete answer:
Rooftop rainwater harvesting structure – The roof becomes the catchment in rooftop irrigation, and rainwater is obtained from the house/roof. building's It can be contained in a tank or redirected to a facility for artificial recharging. Rooftop rainwater may be collected and deposited for immediate use or recharged into the groundwater system.

Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting is a method of collecting rainwater from roof catchments and storing it in reservoirs. Rainwater can be collected and stored in sub-surface groundwater reservoirs using artificial recharge techniques to meet household needs in tanks.

Option A) Tamil Nadu: To stop groundwater depletion, Tamil Nadu was the first state to make rainwater harvesting mandatory for all buildings. The project began in 2001 and has since been initiated in all of Tamil Nadu's rural areas. Rainwater harvesting is promoted through posters in Tamil Nadu, including rural areas. Tamil Nadu is the first state in India to make rooftop rainwater harvesting mandatory for all homes. Hence, this option is correct.

Option B) Andhra Pradesh: Rainwater is collected on the roof and transported to a storage reservoir through gutters, where it is used to provide water at the point of consumption or to recharge a well or aquifer. Rainwater harvesting is now needed in all Municipal Corporations, Urban Development Authorities and Municipalities, and buildings with an area of 300 sq m or more in Andhra Pradesh, according to a government order posted on the Centre for Science and Environment's rainwater harvesting website. So, In Andhra Pradesh rooftop rainwater harvesting is compulsory across the state but this is not the first state to implement it. Hence this option incorrect.

Option C) Maharashtra: The potential for rainwater harvesting in various locations across Maharashtra. Rainwater harvesting is an excellent option for dealing with water shortages caused by insufficient surface water supplies and insufficient quantitative and qualitative groundwater supplies. So, In Maharashtra, Usage of Rainwater harvesting varies across the state and also it’s not compulsory. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option D) Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh government has made rooftop rainwater harvesting (RWH) mandatory for all buildings in civic areas with plot sizes greater than 250 square meters, as well as providing a property tax rebate for the year in which the rainwater harvesting was installed. There is a limited area where roof rainwater harvesting is mandatory in Madhya Pradesh but this is not compulsory to all the houses across the state. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Therefore, Tamil Nadu is the correct answer, since Tamil Nadu is the first and the only state in India, which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structures and is compulsory to all the houses across the state.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note: Bamboo dripping irrigation systems in Meghalaya is one of three rainwater harvesting methods used in different parts of India. In Rajasthan, rainwater is stored in underground 'tankas.' Kuls are water diversion channels used primarily for agricultural purposes in the Himalayan region.
The value of rainwater harvesting stems from the fact that it can be collected for later use. The collected water can be used to revitalize and increase the quality of groundwater, just as it can be used directly. Rainwater harvesting prevents water from running off the surface and decreases soil erosion.