Onus on owners to close dry, open borewells: Siddu

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said it was the responsibility of owners and drilling companies to close dry, open borewells.

Action would be taken against the violating owner and the borewell company, he told reporters here.

 However, he refused to commit himself to framing a rule making it mandatory for owners and drilling companies to fill dry borewells in order to prevent accidents.

He said the State government had written to all the deputy commissioners asking them to issue show-cause notices to owners who have not closed their dry, open borewells. 

“It is unfortunate that a six-year-old boy fell into a borewell at his own farm. They (boy's parents) should have taken measures to close the well,” he said.

He said the State government would consider setting up task forces in all the districts so that help is provided to victims at the earliest.