To many, there may not seem to be any correlation between property tax and harvesting of rainwater. Both are separate and distinct. One is about water conservation and the other about payment of property tax to the Government. However, the State Government has come out with an innovative scheme in order to encourage harvesting of rainwater in rural areas.

Every year, rainwater goes down the drains as there is hardly any awareness on harvesting rainwater. The Government has come out with a scheme where if you collect rainwater, you get a 20 percent discount on the property tax that you pay. This is an introductory offer from the State Government in rural areas. The Government has initiated efforts in popularizing the concept of rainwater harvesting in rural areas across the State. The order was passed by the Government a few days ago. It was announced that 20 percent discount on property tax will be given for five years in rural areas where houses have rainwater harvesting facilities. The offer, which starts from September 1st this year, will be on till March 31st 2008 .

Karnataka is perhaps the first State in the country to offer concessions on property tax with regard to the implementation of rainwater harvesting programmes. Rainwater harvesting means using rain water. One can store it in tanks or one can use it to recharge groundwater. In olden days rain was harvested naturally. We lost touch with these local solutions. But now, as the taps dry up, more and more people are reviving this age-old system and practising it successfully. One can harvest rain in his own house. Structures to harvest rain require little space. A dried bore-well, a row of soak pits or a tank - concealed below the ground - are all that one needs. The open spaces - rooftops and ground - can be used as catchments.

• Construct a water collection tank of 1,000 litre capacity.
• Submit a voluntary application to the Grama Panchayat seeking the discount.
• Submit a tank construction completion report to the Grama Panchayat.
• Grama Panchayat officials to inspect the house and the tank.
• Once the Grama Panchayat approves it, pay property tax, net of the discount to the Grama Panchayat.

Presently, the shortage in drinking water needs is being met through tankers and sinking bore wells. However, supply to the entire region has not been possible. Rainwater collection and utilization is one of the best solutions to this crisis. Instead of making rainwater harvesting compulsory, the government has decided to motivate people to go in for rainwater harvesting facilities and as such it was decided to provide incentives on property taxes.

For the time being, the offer is only confined to rural areas. A similar proposal for urbanites is pending with the urban development department, which is studying the percentage of discount to be given and the modalities of the scheme.

If the scheme works, the same may be implemented in the urban areas including cities. Taking a cue from Karnataka, other States in the country may follow suit which would definitely help in solving the water problem of the country to a great extent.