Commercial borewells in residential areas are guzzling precious ground water. As a result, the domestic borewells in surrounding houses and apartments are going dry, causing utter inconvenience to citizens. As per the Water Air Land and Trees (WALTA) Act, commercialisation of borewell water is not allowed in residential areas or city limits.
Citizens claim that despite lodging complaints, officials are not taking action against tanker operators who are selling precious groundwater. One such “commercial bore” in the midst of a residential locality near a private dairy farm in Dabeerpura in the old city, is a classic example of a violation of the WALTA Act as well as of official apathy. “From morning to evening, mobile water tankers are filled with water from a commercial borewell located in a semi-residential building under the Dabeerpura flyover. Local residents tried to speak to the owner, but were threatened with dire consequences. The owner has strong political connections,” said Iqbal Ahmed (name changed), a local resident.
A visit to the Dabeerpura bridge reveals the ongoing commercial exploitation of groundwater. Even when this correspondent visited the spot, a mobile water tanker was being filled with water. The tanker carried no name of any supplying agency. Even the building in which the borewell is located, remains unnamed, despite there being a private dairy farm on the other side of the same building. While this correspondent was attempting to note down the registration number of the tanker, a man came out and tried to manhandle him, uttering threats while stopping him from taking photographs.
Groundwater in residential colonies is being commercially exploited as the mandal level and division level authorities (committees) comprising officials from revenue, Water Board and GHMC headed by a tahsildar are yet to be formed 10 years after WALTA was made an Act.
As per the Act, these committees will be empowered to raid and seize illegal commercial borewells, levy fines and prosecute the violators. When contacted, local tahsildar Ratna Kalyani said they have not received any complaint from the area so far. “We will go and check if the bore water is being exploited,” she said. Hyderabad revenue divisional officer Dr S. Harish said they have sealed over 40 commercial borewells this summer, but no commercial borewell has been seized in Dabeerpura.