Harvest rainwater, get tax discountAdd to Clippings
Harvest rainwater, get tax discountAdd to Clippings
RAKESH P
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2005 01:42:45 AM ]
Citibank NRI Offer
BANGALORE: Collect rainwater and get a 20 per cent discount on the property tax that you pay!
That's the introductory offer from the Karnataka government which is stretching itself to the maximum in popularising the concept of rainwater harvesting in rural habitations across the state.
The government passed an order 10 days ago announcing 20 per discount on property tax for five years to rural folks whose houses have rainwater harvesting facilities. The offer, which starts from September 1 this year, will be on till March 31, 2008.
Speaking to The Times of India, rural development and panchayat raj secretary VP Baligar said: "Karnataka will be the first state in the country to offer concessions on property tax with regard to the implementation of rainwater harvesting programmes."
Encouraging rainwater harvesting facilities will not only check depletion of the groundwater table but also tackle fluorosis, a water-borne disease. There are 56,682 rural habitations across the state and nearly half of these face drinking water problems.
In July this year, drinking water needs of 227 habitations were met through tankers and the needs of 111 habitations were met by sinking borewells.However, about 1,000 habitations in 13 districts recorded excess levels of fluoride in water.
"Rainwater collection and utilisation is one of the best solutions to this crisis. We weighed the pros and cons of making rain water harvesting compulsory like it is in Tamil Nadu.
But as several government programmes thrust on the people have not been received well, we decided to motivate people to go in for rainwater harvesting facilities. In this backdrop we decided to provide incentives on property taxes," Baligar said.
The offer, for the time being, 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, sources said.
RAKESH P
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2005 01:42:45 AM ]
Citibank NRI Offer
BANGALORE: Collect rainwater and get a 20 per cent discount on the property tax that you pay!
That's the introductory offer from the Karnataka government which is stretching itself to the maximum in popularising the concept of rainwater harvesting in rural habitations across the state.
The government passed an order 10 days ago announcing 20 per discount on property tax for five years to rural folks whose houses have rainwater harvesting facilities. The offer, which starts from September 1 this year, will be on till March 31, 2008.
Speaking to The Times of India, rural development and panchayat raj secretary VP Baligar said: "Karnataka will be the first state in the country to offer concessions on property tax with regard to the implementation of rainwater harvesting programmes."
Encouraging rainwater harvesting facilities will not only check depletion of the groundwater table but also tackle fluorosis, a water-borne disease. There are 56,682 rural habitations across the state and nearly half of these face drinking water problems.
In July this year, drinking water needs of 227 habitations were met through tankers and the needs of 111 habitations were met by sinking borewells.However, about 1,000 habitations in 13 districts recorded excess levels of fluoride in water.
"Rainwater collection and utilisation is one of the best solutions to this crisis. We weighed the pros and cons of making rain water harvesting compulsory like it is in Tamil Nadu.
But as several government programmes thrust on the people have not been received well, we decided to motivate people to go in for rainwater harvesting facilities. In this backdrop we decided to provide incentives on property taxes," Baligar said.
The offer, for the time being, 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, sources said.
posted by kubera at 10:37 AM
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