Tamil Nadu Mandates Rainwater Harvesting for All Buildings

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launches 'Thuli' campaign urging local bodies to enforce rainwater harvesting across all buildings.

An old rural house with a damaged clay tile roof in Chennai, India, showing signs of decay.
Photo: GOWTHAM AGM

Tamil Nadu has directed all local bodies to make rainwater harvesting mandatory for buildings across the state, aiming to improve water conservation during the monsoon season. The move was announced by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during the launch of a statewide awareness campaign.

Stalin inaugurated the 'Thuli' rainwater harvesting awareness initiative on Wednesday, urging urban and rural local bodies to strictly enforce the regulation. The campaign seeks to promote sustainable water usage and reduce dependency on groundwater resources.

The directive comes as several southern districts face recurring water scarcity issues, particularly during summer months. Officials say the mandate will apply to both new and existing structures, with penalties proposed for non-compliance.

Video: ICCW-IITM: Daily webinar series on rainwater harvesting
Watch on YouTube