Karnataka has not seen such a severe drought in 3-4 decades: Deputy CM
Though there was drought earlier the state govt had never declared such a large number of taluks as drought-affected, said DK Shivakumar
Amid the acute water shortage in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Monday (March 11) said the state had not witnessed such a severe drought in the past three-four decades.
“In the last 30-40 years we had not seen such drought; though there was drought earlier we had never declared such a large number of taluks as drought-affected,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.
“Wherever Cauvery river water has to be supplied, (it) is being done, but out of 13,900 odd borewells in Bengaluru, about 6,900 borewells have become defunct,” he said.
Shivakumar said the government has taken “things under its control” and arranged tankers to supply water.
Warning of legal action
Meanwhile, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has said it will take legal action against those drilling unauthorised borewells within the city limits.
Starting March 15, people can seek permission for drilling borewells by submitting their applications on the official website of the board and approval will be granted based on site inspection by the concerned officials, it said.
In an order, BWSSB said that before drilling borewells for personal or other use in Bengaluru city, it is mandatory to obtain permission from concerned authorities as per section 11 of Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2011.
Decline in ground water
It cited lack of adequate rainwater as a reason for decline in ground water level and said many borewells in the city have dried up. Officials also suspect that ground water level in the city is also decreasing due to “unscientific drilling” of borewells.
According to the order, borewells should be drilled only in those places where permission has been granted by the concerned authorities and if they are done in unauthorised places, legal action will be taken as per rules.
The order comes just days after BWSSB banned usage of potable water for non-essential purposes -- cleaning vehicles, construction of buildings and roads, for entertainment purposes or decorations like fountains -- in Bengaluru and stated that violators would be fined Rs 5,000.
Malls and cinema halls are permitted to use potable water only for drinking, according to the March 7 order.
(With agency inputs)