Whimsical and wanton, say citizens

Whimsical and not serious, that’s the verdict of City’s citizens on mandatory registration of borewells — old or new.

Says Saroja Dileepan, resident of Amarjyothi Layout, Domlur: We tried getting a Cauvery connection but ran into several hurdles, so we gave up and decided to dig a borewell.  What benefit does registering the borewell bring? she wonders.

Likewise, says Vijayanand, also of Domlur, his connection has been in place for four years but not received a single drop from it yet. “I remember BWSSB issuing a similar rule asking for all buildings within 2,400  sq ft to have rain harvesting facilities. What has happened to that? This rule is hogwash just like any other”, he adds.

Abraham runs a paying guest facility from past 12 years and has a borewell connection. But he doesn’t intend to register. “What is the use? It’s not going to stop anyone from digging more borewells,” he quips. “Of late water we get from borewell is not sufficient and we are supplementing it by buying water. Damage has already been done. How will it be rectified by such half-hearted measures being put in place”, queries Saroja.

Dasarahalli, formerly city municipal council (CMC), is one place where large number of borewells have been sunk.  Except for a few, none have been registered. Some do not know that they have to get BWSSB nod for sinking a new borewell and get their existing borewells registered by March 31, 2013.

Padma Mariappa, a homemaker, who stays near Jain Temple Road, Dasarahalli area, has two borewells at her home but it is of no use to her as they are all closed due to water depletion. “Besides my place, there are four more borewells in the lane where I am staying but they are not registered. Two weeks ago, my husband got a borewell sunk at our betel nut farm at Tarabanahalli for irrigation purpose. We haven’t taken any kind of permission for it, as we do not know about the rule,” she adds.

Most of the borewells dug at homes have gone dry in the last five years. “Why do we have to get borewells registered when there is no water at all and ground water is already depleted. The rule would have worked out well had it been introduced five years back only,” rued Sandhya M.

At Whitefield, Shashi, a housewife , said: “I know about the rule but I do not have a borewell. The law is good but when it comes to implementation, I think most of the people do not comply with. Effective steps should be taken by BWSSB to ensure that all buildings follow the rule.”

According BWSSB officials of Whitefield division, number of people coming for registration is gradually increasing.  Till date, 130 residents and ten drilling agencies have registered.

Besides residential properties, even drilling agencies in City have to get registered from BWSSB paying Rs 5,000. Manjunath Reddy, a borewell drilling agency contractor from Whitefield Main Road, said: “I got my agency registered and feel a sense of security as it acts as identity proof. I am not sure how it will work out in the long run.”