Existing borewells, rigs and water tankers will have to be registered with BWSSB.
The committee formed under the state government’s Ground Water Regulation and Control of Development and Management Act 2011, to regulate private water tanker mafia and monitor ground water levels held its first meeting on Saturday at department of Mines and Geology at Khanija Bhavan.
Addressing a conference jointly, state law minister S Suresh Kumar and minor irrigation minister Govind Karjol announced that to expedite the process of having control over the private water tanker mafia, it was decided to establish the office of Ground Water Authority. It was also decided to provide technical and non-technical staff for the authority.
Deputy commissioner, officer of the rank of SP, people’s representatives, officials of mines and geology, minor irrigation, NABARD and watershed departments will also be the part of the
The law minister explained that, once the bill is implemented, house owners of Bangalore and other places will have to get the authority’s nod before digging borewells. It will have the discretionary powers to grant or reject permits to dig wells.
Suresh Kumar stated that it would be made mandatory to register bore wells with BWSSB. “In Bangalore there are 1 lakh borewells and peripheral areas have 3.2 lakh borewells. Borewells used by households, borewell rigs (which is used to dig them) and water tankers will also have to register with the BWSSB,” he added.
The details of application forms and the procedures of registration will be published in the Mines and Geology department website.
The areas will be notified first and segregated as ‘over exploited,’ ‘semi critical ’and ‘critical’. There will be consideration for drinking water. However, the authority will suggest ways to improve underground water levels. The policy is flexible and permission will be granted to people to dig borewells, once the ground water levels stabilises, he stated.
For private water suppliers and those who do not follow guidelines issued by Ground Water Authority, a fine of up to Rs5,000 and a jail term of up to six months or both is recommended.
Mandatory guidelines for water suppliers include, price fixation by BBMP, mandatory lab test to ensure quality, trade licence, source of water must be revealed, tanker should specify the quantity of water.
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