Unabated borewell digging in Kadur taluk

The people in the taluk, which is labelled as the taluk overusing underground water, are not aware about the precious natural resource.

Though a notification on the impact of the overuse of groundwater was issued a month ago, people seem to have ignored it and the rig machines are being used to dig borewells in different parts of the district unabatedly. Farmers are digging borewells in rural areas as if it is a competition.

The annual availability of underground water in Kadur area is 10,096.67 hydrometres. In this, 9,664.22 hydrometres are being used for irrigation purpose and 539.38 hydrometres are being used for drinking and industries.

It has been predicted that only 532.75 hydrometres of underground water will be available for irrigation in future. According to rules, the farmers have to register the borewells in working condition and also have to obtain permission before digging new borewells. But none of these rules is being followed in the district.

The Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) invited applications for regularisation of illegal borewells. A fee of Rs 10,000 was also fixed for the purpose. About 13,000 borewells are yet to get electricity connection in the taluk and among them, 3,388 connections have been regularised. The rest 9,612 borewells are yet to be regularised.

Assistant Executive Engineer of Kadur Romaraj said 24-hour electricity supply is being provided in town areas. Seven hours of three phase and eight hours of single phase electricity is being supplied in rural areas. The load shedding period stands at nine hours. The taluk requires 85 MW.

It has 36,750 connections for borewells and 1,52,016 connections for domestic consumption. But the farmers and other locals say that there is no truth in this statement.
Though some areas have been notified as the areas overusing the groundwater, no restrictions have been taken to implement them. There is no control on the digging of borewells.

It is said that Mescom is not taking any measures to stop illegal power connection to borewells.  The officials have to undertake steps to stop the overuse of groundwater.