Hyderabad: The rampant illegal drilling of 6-inch borewells in Greater Hyderabad has reached alarming proportions.
Despite there being a ban on borewells of 6-inch or wider diametre in urban areas, as many as 10,000 borewells are being drilled every year. As per the rules, only borewells of 4.5-inch diametre can be drilled in cities.
Groundwater development authorities, who issue licences to dig the borewells, do not bother to inspect the size of the same.
Borewells with a 4.5 inc diametre are permitted for houses or apartment complexes by the concerned mandal revenue officer under the collector. The MRO, after issuing permission, needs to verify through the village revenue officer in the mandal, whether the stipulated conditions have been fulfilled.
However, no verification is done, leading to exploitation of groundwater by drilling beyond 500 feet, and 6-inch borewells being drilled. In many areas permissions are obtained for a single borewell and more than one are drilled.
Apartment complexes are drilling around three to 12 borewells of 6 inches and exploiting ground water with a single permission letter.
No MRO or VRO checks the depth or number of borewells in residential apartment complexes.
Dr G.V. Rao of the Alwal Resident Welfare Association, and an activist, had written to the collector regarding exploitation of groundwater in Alwal, following which, the collector issued orders to the MRO, Malkajgiri mandal, to conduct a survey and locate 6-inch borewells in residential areas.
“The MRO ignored the order and allowed illegal drilling during the dry months of May-June. Digging is not allowed until the onset of monsoon in July. Meanwhile, domestic borewells in the surrounding areas are drying up,” Dr Rao said.
Some residents also utilised 6-inch borewells to sell water during the recent shortage, which is against the Water, Air, Land and Trees Act, said the activist.
As per the Act, borewells need to be registered by the VRO. The MRO also needs to maintain a register with the details of the permissions granted.
Meanwhile Abandoned borewells not filled
Abandoned borewells are left “unfilled” across the state in violation of Supreme Court instructions.
As per rules, the groundwater department is supposed to inspect the borewell and submit a report to the mandal revenue officer for permission. Instead, private parties directly approach the MRO and get permission.
If drilling is unsuccessful, the rig owner or private party has to fill it up with boulders, clay, sand or any raw material and close it.
“The negligence of the MRO, rig owners and private parties is claiming innocent lives. Neither the private parties, nor the rig owners are punished for these violations,” said an official from the groundwater department.
