Borewells which once quenched the thirst of lakhs of people across the State, has now become mere showpieces in most of the districts. Over exploitation of underground water has made these wonder instruments almost redundant.
Initially, the state government allowed indiscriminate drawing of water from beneath the ground without understanding its consequences. But now it seems to be regretting for its decision. This kind of situation is prevailing not only in Bangalore but also in many parts of Karnataka. However, the effect here is more because it caters to the demands of a huge population. It is estimated that there are four to five borewells within a 100 meters vicinity which indicates how the population is dependent on underground water. After allowing people to sink borewells as per their whims and fancies, now the government is finding it difficult to regulate them.
With the monsoons playing truant even in Bangalore, the process of groundwater recharge is a big question mark. It has left many borewells in the city dry and has got the ‘famine bomb’ ticking.
■ Karnataka Ground Water Authority
The warning bells for Bangalore city have started to ring as the drilling of bore-wells is going on unabatedly even as the Karnataka Ground Water Authority is making all out efforts to put an end to over exploitation of precious ground water resources.
In an effort to curb activities that contribute to depleting ground water levels, the Minor Irrigation-Water Resources Department, Department of Mines and Geology and Central Ground Water Board, is making all preparations to put a full stop to the exploitation of the groundwater.
The rules and regulations framed for setting up the authority has received the approval of legal department and will be notified soon. Once the Authority comes into existence, only with its permission borewells can be sunk(initially in the areas notified by the authority). Rigs which sink borewells, should also get registered and those who fail will be penalised by the authority(after giving a grace period). Commercial units which supply ground water will be fixed with meters and monitored. The authority will be headed by the Chairman of Water Resources Department with the Director Mines and Geology as Member -Secretary. The authority will start functioning with some government officials like Engineer-in-chief of BWSSB, Chairman of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, some farmer representatives and other nominated members who have special knowledge or practical experiences in matters relating to groundwater.
While the registration fee for domestic and agricultural purposes is fixed at ` 50, borewells for commercial and industrial purposes will have to shell out ` 500. “The whole process of registration along with application, rules and regulations etc will be shortly announced on the official website of Department of Mines and Geology” Minister Suresh Kumar had earlier stated, after the first meeting of the Authority, last May.
There is possibilities of bringing private water tankers under trade-license ambit, display rates for each water tanker and also get water test certificates from recognised labs.
■ BWSSB and its public borewells
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is maintaining 14,474 borewells. Out of this, about 30-40 per cent borewells have already gone dry, leaving the residents to knock at the doors of private
water suppliers.
The condition is worse in areas falling under Bangalore East and North. Out of 14,474 borewells, 7,000 borewells have gone dry.
When City Express spoke to T Venkatraju, Engineer-in-chief, BWSSB he said “About 30-40 per cent of borewells have gone dry. The residents of these regions are totally dependant on groundwater, as most of the areas do not get Cauvery water supply. Other than the supply of water through our tankers, there is no other source of water”.
However, Venkatraju assured that the peripheral areas will get relief once the Cauvery 4th stage, 2nd phase is commissioned in November. “The dependence of borewells will decrease once we give Cauvery water to them”, he added.
■ Areas falling under Bangalore North
Lingarajpuram,Maruthisevanagar,Banaswadi, Kamanahalli,H B R Layout,Kalyanagar, Pillanna Garden,Kadugondanahalli,Nagawara, Kavalbyrasandra,Ramaswamypalya,Kariyannapala etc.
■ Areas falling under Bangalore East
K R Puram,Mahadevpura,Bytarayanapura, Yelahanka, Dasarahalli,R R Nagar,Whitefield, Doorvani Nagar, Kadugodi, Doddanekkundi, Vimanapura,Sadarmangala,Hoodi,Horamavu, A NarayanapuraB Narayanapura, Devasandra, Basavanapura, etc
■ What the reports say?
As per estimates, Bangalore falls under the ‘Over-exploited zone’, where the groundwater has been exploited by over 200 per cent. While there is no realistic data of number of borewells in the city even with the government institutions, a rough estimate shows nearly 3.12 lakh bore wells.
“As per the study conducted by Karnataka Ground Water Authority experts, Bangalore city is exploiting groundwater at a rate of 378 per cent against the recharge of 3,290 hectare meters per year, which is nearly four times the annual recharge” said K C Subhash Chandra, Hydrologist and Groundwater Expert Member, Karnataka Groundwater Authority.
“Bangalore city is spread over an area of 800 sq km, of which, 560 sq km fall under the built-up area comprising mosaic of concrete structures and asphalted roads, leaving only 240 sq km of open space.
This severely restricts the infiltration of rainwater into the city aquifers and promotes ‘heavy over-land flow’; often inundating low-lying areas” Subhash added.
■ 14,400 borewells dug in 120 days
Fearing registration and other procedures, once the Karnataka Ground Water Authority starts its action of monitoring the digging of borewells, nearly 50-60 rigs, have worked day and night from January to April.
Reliable sources said, “If we assume that 60 rigs sunk two borewells per day, about 14,400 borewells have been dug in a matter of 120 days, from Jan-April”.
The source, however, maintained that there were no official documents to confirm this.
■ What led to this grave situation ?
The figures from Indian Meteorological Department indicate that rainfall received by Bangalore City has been fluctuating since last five years. Normally, the city should have received 180 mm of rainfall during June and July. But the actual rainfall has been 73 mm. In simple words, the city has a rain deficit of around 60 per cent.
■ Snakes in borewell
While speaking to some residents of Bangalore East and North, we also came across some complaints from residents who claimed to have spotted snakes falling into defunct borewells.
Mohan K, a Wildlife Volunteer with BBMP Bansawadi Zone said,“As a volunteer, we immediately attend to such ‘snake calls’. Catching the snakes here differs a little bit. We need to fill the bore-well with about seven loads of water, to bring the reptile out and release it in conducive habitat.”
■Rainwater
harvesting
BWSSB had made it compulsory to install Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) on all commercial and government structures measuring 40x60 feet. The official deadline to install RWH on buildings measuring 40x60 feet ended on March 31.
Of the total 55,000 buildings, only 42,040 buildings had installed
RWH (till July 30).
Water experts like former Irrigation Secretary Captain Raja Rao and BWSSB chairman Gaurav Gupta are insisting that RWH should be done at every intersection of roads and save the rain water which flows into the storm water drains.
“RWH should become people’s movement. We have conducted many workshops and given technical assistance to BBMP engineers and insisted them to adopt RWH along footpaths, roads, etc” BWSSB chairman Gaurav Gupta stated.
■ Private suppliers rule the roost
No thanks to the growing demand from residents and depleting groundwater levels, this has led to the increase in number of private water suppliers.
As there is no control over private water selling outlets, they have been exploiting people by charging exorbitant rates.
The rates have marginally increased, when compared to the ones which prevailed last year. For instance, 5,000 litre load of water which was sold at `200-`250 last year now costs `400-`450.
What’s worse is that the residents have to book for their share of water, two days
in advance.
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