Team Herald
PANJIM: The Water Resources Department (WRD) has issued notices to the owners of 70 illegal borewells found to have been dug unlawfully in Chimbel.
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Environmental activist Ana Gracias reported noticing individuals carrying out digging work in the area. Despite her requests for them to stop, they continued their activities. “I called the police, and when the Old Goa Police personnel arrived, they took written assurance from those doing the digging that they would cease. However, to my surprise, the work resumed the following day, which compelled me to file another complaint with the police,” she said.
Gracias explained that although she had initially lodged a complaint about one borewell, the WRD notice revealed that around 70 borewells had been illegally dug in the area. She has appealed to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to intervene, as she believes borewell water could pose health risks.
In response, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar addressed reporters on Monday, stating that stern warnings had been issued, and fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh will be imposed on anyone found guilty. “Some individuals have dug illegal borewells in Chimbel. Based on the information, there are about 60 to 70 such borewells. The Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer from WRD will conduct inspections, and, with police assistance, they will ensure these wells are disconnected,” Shirodkar said. He added that under the Goa Ground Water Act 2002, fines of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh can be imposed for illegal borewells.
The WRD Minister emphasised that anyone wishing to sink borewells or open wells must first obtain the necessary permissions.
Meanwhile, the WRD Executive Engineer-I, who also serves as the Ground Water Officer, has issued show-cause notices to some of the individuals who have sunk borewells. The officer has also contacted the Electricity Department to disconnect the power supply to these illegal borewells.
UNDERWATER PIPELINE FROM TILLARI TO PANJIM
The State government is considering an ambitious project to bring raw water from the Tillari irrigation dam to Panjim via an underwater pipeline in the Mandovi River, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar said.
Speaking about the proposal, Shirodkar stated that the WRD is working on a scheme to implement the project within the next two years. “Water from the Tillari dam currently reaches Porvorim. We are exploring the possibility of laying an underwater pipeline to bring the raw water to Panjim,” he said.
