Despite maintaining that Goa’s groundwater extraction re mains within ‘safe’ limits, the State government has effectively acknowl edged a growing and widespread problem of illegal borewell drilling, with multiple cases now under judi cial scrutiny. Replying to a question tabled by the Leader of Opposition, Water Re sources Minister Subhash Shirodkar told the Legislative Assembly that the State’s groundwater extraction stands at 23.29%, classified as ‘safe’ as per the 2025 assessment by the Central Ground Water Board. However, even as the government leaned on this assessment, its own reply laid bare the scale of violations across the State, with illegal borewell activity spanning individuals, indus tries, hotels and commercial estab lishments. The Minister stated that ground water resource assessments are conducted jointly by the State Water Resources Department and the Cen tral Ground Water Board. Yet, the disclosure of enforcement action and pending litigation suggests a widen ing disconnect between official as sessments and on-ground realities.
A significant number of cases have already reached the courts, with several matters currently pending before the Bombay High Court at Goa — underscoring the serious ness and spread of unauthorised groundwater extraction. One of the largest clusters has been reported from Chim bel in Tiswadi taluka, where over 40 individuals are re spondents in an ongoing Public Interest Litigation filed by Ana Gracias, now under consideration of the High Court. The scale of the case points to systemic violations rather than isolated infractions. In Penha-de-Franca, authorities have issued a show cause notice to a resident for alleged illegal borewell ac tivity, further indicating that the problem cuts across both urban and semi-urban areas. Court-directed enforcement has also exposed violations in key coastal belts. Sixteen illegal borewells were sealed in Calangute, five in Candolim, three in Arpora and one in Anjuna — many of them located in beach shack zones, raising concerns over unchecked extraction in ecologically sensitive and tourism-heavy areas. Beyond court-mandated action, the government admit ted that fines have been imposed in several cases where borewells were drilled without mandatory permissions. Such violations have been reported from Sattari and Bicholim talukas, involving both private individuals and a company. Officials stated that these borewells were constructed in violation of groundwater regulations, attracting penalties AP, LONDON: Four ambu lances belonging to a Jew ish charity in London were set on fire early Monday morning in London, in what British police are investi gating as a hate crime. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “deeply shocking” anti semitic arson attack. “My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news,” he said. Officers were called to Golders Green, a London neighbourhood with a large Jewish population, after re ceiving reports of a fire, the Metropolitan Police force said. Four ambulances belong ing to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer organisation that provides emergency medical response, were damaged, according to the London fire brigade. Multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded, causing windows to break in an adjacent apartment block. The force said no injuries have been reported and the fire has been brought under control. The cause of the fire is being investigated, authorities said. “We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries,” Police Superintendent Sa rah Jackson said. She added that the police are looking for three sus pects but no arrests have been made yet. Police said reports of explosions were linked to gas canisters on the ambu lances. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution ary measure. Mark Reisner, an eye witness who lives in the neighbourhood, heard loud explosions and reached the scene “just as the third am bulance was blowing up,” he told Sky News. “A very loud explo sion, you sort of felt it go through your guts,” he said, adding, “it’s just left us all reeling with confu sion and shock.” Shomrim, a nonprofit or ganisation which operates a neighbourhood watch in the area, condemned the attack. “This was not only a criminal act of arson, but a targeted and deeply con cerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community,” it said in a post on X. Jewish ambulance service vehicles set on fire in London FROM PAGE 1 under the State’s water resources framework. While the government reiterated that overall ground water usage remains within permissible limits, the extent of violations, the geographic spread, and the volume of cases now before the courts point to a deeper regulatory failure. The disclosures indicate that unauthorised groundwa ter extraction is no longer sporadic, but a growing concern — particularly in densely populated and coastal regions.
