BBMP taken to task over borewells

The High Court on Wednesday directed BBMP to submit a report on the time required to test the borewells in 110 villages within its limit.

     The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna issued the direction while hearing a suo motu petition initiated based on newspaper reports on depleting groundwater quality.

The BBMP said 110 villages around the City have 599 borewells. “Are these borewells clean and the water potable,” the Bench wanted to know. When the BBMP submitted that they have not been tested, the Bench said, “Is it not your duty to test them?”

When the BBMP tried to say that it was the task of the Pollution Control Board, the Bench said: “Do not pass the buck. You must have thought of it before including these areas. You are collecting tax from the people. “You get these villages into your fold so that you can collect more tax. Now, it is your problem, find a solution. You have bitten more than you can chew,” the Bench said.