Owners to get second chance to register borewells with groundwater authority

The Karnataka Groundwater Authority is giving a second opportunity to those existing borewell owners -- both domestic and commercial -- to register themselves in the next four months.

In the event the borewells are not registered within the stipulated time (120 days), the Authority will close the borewell and levy a penalty on the owner.

As per the Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation and Control of development and Management) Act 2011 and Rules 2012, it is mandatory to apply for permit to dig new borewells, and also register the existing borewells in the ‘notified’ areas.

The Authority has notified taluks in 12 districts as ‘overly exploited’ taluks. This includes all the taluks in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts. But ever since the enforcement of the Act in 2012, very few have bothered to register or obtain permission for new borewells, especially in Bengaluru.

As per studies carried out by experts, over four lakh borewells have been dug in Bengaluru (BBMP limits). But less than one lakh borewells have been registered.

Notwithstanding the continued over-exploitation of groundwater, the Authority has finally woken up to the menace, and has decided to crack the whip.

Authority Director S B Shettenevar told DH that the government would publish the gazette notification next week, following which borewell owners will be given 120 days (four months) to register their borewells.

While domestic users have to pay a fee of Rs 50 for registration; those using the borewell for commercial use should pay an amount of Rs 500 for registration.

While borewells have to be registered with the BWSSB (in BBMP limits), in other districts, applications have to be submitted to the senior scientist, district Groundwater Authority.

Those who fail to comply with the Act will be liable for punishment with a fine of Rs 2,000 or imprisonment, or both.

Ironically, the Authority has neither ensured that borewells are being registered, nor is it taking action against those who have failed to do so.

Senior geologist G V Hegde said that though the Authority had finally woken up from its slumber, he was sceptical about the seriousness with which it would implement the Act.

“For the last five years, the Authority did little defeating the purpose of regulating groundwater. The idea behind registering existing borewells was to account for the yield and discharge rate. In Bengaluru, water exploitation is more than 400 times, but, the Authority continues to give permission for digging new borewells, which is unfortunate,” he added.

Hegde also said there was no clause in the Act to give a second opportunity to register borewells. “Instead, the Authority should have taken action against those who flouted the law. But it chose to turn a blind eye,” he added.

DH News Service