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Rainwater harvesting rules · sources up to 2025

Rainwater harvesting rules in Telangana

Telangana carried over Andhra Pradesh's Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002, which makes rainwater harvesting mandatory on premises of 200 sq m and above. In Hyderabad, GHMC withholds building permission and the occupancy certificate without RWH, and HMWSSB refuses new water connections to buildings without a recharge pit. In 2025 HMWSSB told properties over 300 sq yd, and homes near the ORR, to install pits.

Note: The claim that the 2023 Groundwater Rules require RWH for 200 sq m+ built-up comes from a blog (MyGate), not the gazette.

Mandatoryfor new buildings
premises of 200 sq m and abovewhere the rule starts
Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002 (as adopted by Telangana); Telangana Groundwater (Development & Management) Rules, 2023the rule

Does it apply to your building?

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Building

What the rule says

Applies toresidential, group housing, commercial
If you don'tHMWSSB: no new connection without a recharge pit. Non-compliant buildings pay about double for water tankers (about Rs 1,000 vs Rs 500 per 5 kL, Dec 2024).

City rules in Telangana

Hyderabad

HMWSSB (Dec 2024) ordered about 17,000 buildings to build RWH pits. Without one, a building gets no new connection and pays about double tanker charges. In July 2025, properties over 300 sq yd and homes near the ORR were told to install pits.

Sources

Rules change and cities add their own. Check with your municipal body or development authority before you build.

Rainwater harvesting cost in Telangana

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Frequently asked questions

Is rainwater harvesting mandatory in Telangana?

Telangana carried over Andhra Pradesh's Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002, which makes rainwater harvesting mandatory on premises of 200 sq m and above. In Hyderabad, GHMC withholds building permission and the occupancy certificate without RWH, and HMWSSB refuses new water connections to buildings without a recharge pit. In 2025 HMWSSB told properties over 300 sq yd, and homes near the ORR, to install pits.

Which buildings need rainwater harvesting in Telangana?

premises of 200 sq m and above: residential, group housing, commercial.

What is the penalty for not having rainwater harvesting in Telangana?

HMWSSB: no new connection without a recharge pit. Non-compliant buildings pay about double for water tankers (about Rs 1,000 vs Rs 500 per 5 kL, Dec 2024).

What are the rainwater harvesting rules in Hyderabad?

HMWSSB (Dec 2024) ordered about 17,000 buildings to build RWH pits. Without one, a building gets no new connection and pays about double tanker charges. In July 2025, properties over 300 sq yd and homes near the ORR were told to install pits.

Rules in other states