Heads of all local bodies have been instructed to take immediate steps to close all abandoned open and deep bore wells after conducting a comprehensive survey across the district.
In a statement, Collector M. Karunakaran said registered bore well operators could start digging, deepening or renovating bore wells in any part of the district only after permission from the local bodies concerned, as per the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Regulation of Sinking of Wells and Safety Measures) Rules, 2015. Heads of all panchayat and the village administrative officers had been instructed to identify abandoned deep bore wells and open wells during the two-day-survey to be carried out on May 26 and 27.
Based on the findings of the survey, appropriate action would be taken to close abandoned open and deep bore wells between June 1 and 15, if no proper permission had been obtained from the local bodies concerned.
“Officials have been designated to monitor this exercise so that falling of children into the abandoned wells and deep bore wells can be avoided,” Dr. Karunakaran added.
Nagercoil
A similar survey would be conducted in Kanyakumari district by the district administration on the same dates.
A release from Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan said land owners and rig operators had been issued guidelines through a Government Order on the procedures to be followed for drilling bore wells, and the safety protocol to be observed with respect to the work.
The inspection would be carried out by committees comprising panchayat union employees, village panchayat presidents, local body representatives, overhead tank operators, sanitary workers and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
If any open or bore wells were found to be kept open endangering lives, immediate steps would be taken to close them by June 15.
