The State government has amended its municipal laws to ensure that children are not hapless victims of careless adults. A Bill introduced in the Assembly on Monday envisages punishment of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs. 50,000 for persons found guilty of not taking care to cover the bore wells.
Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani said that the amendment was to regulate the sinking of borewells to prevent fatality among children.
Since 2011, at least five children, aged two to five years, have died after falling into open borewells. Despite relentless rescue efforts that sometimes went on for several days, rescue personnel could not save the trapped children. The unsuspecting victims often fell to their death even if they were accompanied by adults. Rescuers have maintained that inattention to securing the borewells safely had resulted in fatalities.
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According to the amendment to the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, a person who wishes to sink a well cannot do so without obtaining a permit from the executive authority.
However, this does not apply to the sinking of wells for domestic purpose. The owner of every well, in use or disuse, shall follow safety measures as prescribed hereafter.
Another amendment pertains to penalty for sinking wells without permit or registration. Anyone who contravenes the rules would attract punishment.
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