Published On : Tue, Apr 19th, 2016

Maharashtra Drought : Borewell digging beyond 200 ft banned in state

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Nagpur/Mumbai.
The soaring temperatures across Maharashtra has surfaced deep water crisis in many parts of the state, including many areas of Nagpur district. Given the pace at which ground water level is declining, the state government has stepped up to contain the loss and decided to ban digging of borewells beyond 200 feet.

State Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Babanrao Lonikar informed a press conference that the move was ecessitated in the wake for severe drought and decreasing ground water level across various regions in the state.
He informed that special workshops were conducted for the concerned officials to discuss the ways for implementation of Maharashtra Groundwater Development and Management Act to control the excess water pumping through borewell.

He said that it was decided to restrict the digging of borewell and treat it as a punishable offence. The violators of the rule would now face fine or even imprisonment. He reiterated that the attempts are being made to conserve ground water till monsoon.

Mr. Lonikara informed about, in the prevailing drought conditions across the state, the Government’s widespread efforts to provide relief to the citizens.

He informed that state government has provided total 4356 takers to Konkan,Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati Nagpur. Besides the State Government has also approved Rs 750 crore scarcity fund of which Rs 500 crore have already been distributed to District Collectors for providing measures to meet the drinking water requirements of the
people.