LUDHIANA: If there was any bright spot about the 400mm rainfall that made residents wade through deep waters about a week ago, it was the hope that Ludhiana's depleting water level would improve. However, the bubble has burst as the water level that was at 110 feet before the rainy season has not moved up even an inch. All because the city lacks a rainwater harvesting system and has concrete pavements that don't allow water to seep down. In 2010, before rainy season the spring level of bore (the point where water is found) was 120 feet and it had increased to 121.5 feet after the monsoon. But this year the level had gone down to 110 feet and the rainfall made no difference. The municipal authorities had selected around 12 sites for installing rainwater harvesting systems but failed to install even one. Admitting that the water level has not improved, executive engineer of operation and maintenance cell Manjit Singh said, "There are concrete structures all around so how will the water seep down? In the absence of a proper rainwater harvesting system, water can seep only up to four feet and hardly makes a difference.'' Pointing out that residents also have not been making any efforts to help the situation, architect Karamjit Singh said most don't install a rainwater harvesting system in the newly constructed home as required by the municipal corporation (MC). "Though the MC does not sanction a building plan if the applicant does not allot space for rainwater harvesting yet after completion of building nobody cares to install it. Residents are also discouraged to do so because they find it difficult to maintain the system. It is not easy to keep it clean all the time so that water can be recharged,'' said Karamjit, a resident of SBS Nagar. But environmentalists say that the civic body is acting irresponsibly and not doing their bit to recharge groundwater. Retired IFS officer S S Chana said, "Despite several recommendations the civic authorities did not pay attention towards the need for proper rainwater harvesting systems. When no efforts are made towards recharging ground water level how is it expected to rise?''