Hyderabad: As one more child died due to an open borewell on Sunday, the government has again issued directions to all collectors to cap unused borewells as per the 2013 guidelines of the Supreme Court. Officials have closed over 5,000 unused borewells in three days in Ranga Reddy.
The panchayat raj and rural development department which conducted a survey in February-May 2015 after a girl died in a Ranga Reddy district borewell, found that there were around 30,000 unused borewells which have to be closed, reports DC.
Minister K.T. Rama Rao issued orders to collectors earlier as well to cap and fence abandoned borewells but no one took any action. He had warned people of police cases in case a mishap occurs due to their borewell. But, even after two years, thousands of unused borewells continue to exist.
On an average, each farmer digs up to five borewells to irrigate a five to 10-acre field. Of this, only one is usable, without being monitored. Then farmers don’t fill up failed borewells hoping that it may collect water if there are rains. So abandoned borewells exist in all villages.
Minister Krishna Rao said, “A special drive is being planned till July-end to cap unused borewells. Teams from the Ministry, revenue and local bodies will inspect all villages. If any unused borewell without cap or fencing is found after this criminal cases will be booked against the landowner and in case of deaths the officials concerned will be held responsible.”