‘Why do we destroy resources like this?’ HC slams govt on 70+ illegal borewells

Panaji: The Bombay high court on Tuesday slammed the water resources department for turning a blind eye to 70-plus illegal borewells identified in and around one housing colony at Chimbel.

“If this is the situation in one area, we can imagine what it is like across the state. What’s disturbing is you have 70 borewells in one area and you are pumping out groundwater. Goa is a coastal state and the WRD knows this better than any other. There will be an ingress of saline water. Water finally finds its level ... ultimately what will happen? You and I are going to have to start drinking water from desalination plants,” said the bench of justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar during the hearing on Tuesday. “Why are we destroying resources like this? Obviously these people are selling water. Do you want us to spell it out to your department?” the bench asked the WRD. The court directed the WRD to act against the 70 illegal borewells identified by them in and around Dharwadkar colony, as well as other borewells found at the site and, if required, seal all 70 of them.

Noting from reports that there is likely a threat to authorities when they carry out its directions, the high court directed the secretary of the Chimbel panchayat to assist the executive engineer and the Old Goa police station to provide protection to the executive engineer and his officers to ensure the sealing of unlicensed borewells.

The high court directed the executive engineer to place before it a report on action taken. If the engineer doesn’t complete capping of the borewells, the court directed him to place an interim report giving the correct position at the site on the day.

Convener of the village development committee of Chimbel, Ana Gracias, represented by advocate Sahil Sardesai, filed the PIL seeking directions to immediately seal the illegal borewells and take action. The wells were sunk over the past 10-15 years, and water from these borewells is being pumped through a network of pipes and transported through tanks and on tankers from the site, the high court was told. The WRD issued show cause notices in the matter.


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