Cabinet panel to frame rules

The government has, in principle, decided to make rainwater harvesting mandatory for new buildings and houses as part of efforts to conserve water and overcome its shortage, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said. Briefing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, Mr. Chandy said a Cabinet subcommittee comprising Water Resources Minister P.J. Joseph, Panchayats and Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneeer, and Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali had been set up to frame rules in this regard. Later, rainwater harvesting would be made mandatory for old buildings.