The Government of Telangana has decided to take up plugging of abandoned borewells in farm fields and elsewhere in districts under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to prevent accidents of children falling into them accidentally.
Minister for Panchayat Raj and Information Technology K. Taraka Rama Rao has taken the decision on Tuesday following the death of a two-year-old girl, Shanvi, who accidentally fell into an abandoned borewell at Vallala village of Shaligouraram mandal in Nalgonda district on Monday. The girl was found dead on Tuesday in the rescue operation.
Mr. Rama Rao directed the officials concerned to plug all abandoned borewells in farm fields and elsewhere in districts by tying up the work with MGNREGS. He expressed shock over the death of Shanvi and extended his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family.
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The Minister expressed anger against district officials for not following the orders issued in the past to plug all abandoned borewells to prevent such accidents.
He spoke to district Collector P. Satyanarayana Reddy over phone and enquired him about why the orders were not implemented. He told the Collector to act sternly against the officials who were neglecting the orders.
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Further, the Minister directed the officials concerned to lodge a criminal complaint against the land owner of the abandoned borewell where it was located for leaving it uncapped, leading to the death of the little girl.
Mr. Rama Rao asked the Collector to take personal care on the issue of plugging abandoned borewells.
He also wanted the officials to initiate action under criminal laws against those who are leaving the abandoned borewells uncapped. The government had appealed several times in the past through the district administration and through media to plug abandoned borwells but in vain, the Minister noted.
Act sternly against officials who are neglecting orders
K.T. Rama Rao
Minister for Panchayat Raj and IT
Minister K.T. Rama Rao angry with district officials for not following the orders issued in the past to plug all abandoned borewells