Bengaluru: Over 40,000 open borewells have been closed after the state government issued an order on August 4, 2014 to close defunct borewells.
Rural development and panchayat raj minister H.K. Patil told reporters the panchayats were asked to keep a tight watch on borewells which had failed to yield water. "Unless they provide photographs showing the closure of defunct borewells, gram panchayats will not get permission for digging new borewells," he said.
Keeping in view the recurring droughts in the state, the government plans to launch a new scheme, Patala Gange, under which land would be drilled between 3,000 to 8000 feet and water drawn from the Magma layer underground. A company, Water Quest Hydro Resources, has come forward to implement the scheme. "If the plan is successful, 80,000 to 1 lakh litres of pure drinking water can be obtained per hour. A decision to this effect will be taken in the next cabinet meeting," Mr Patil said while asserting that it would not harm the environment.
