The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Single window clearance for borewells

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Single window clearance for borewells

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 14. The Minister for Rural Development, D. Srinivas, announced on Tuesday a mandal-level `single window system' for processing applications for digging borewells. Applications can be made at the Mandal Revenue Office and the decision would be announced within 15 days.

This measure is being proposed to better implement the Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002 (APWALTA) and make it simple for farmers to get clearance for new borewells.

Money matters

Applicants would be required to pay a Rs. 1,000 towards insurance premium at the time of submitting the application. Further they would be required to pay Rs. 1,000 as site survey charges for geological clearance. Small and marginal farmers would have to pay only Rs. 500 under this category. Mr. Srinivas announced that the Government had decided to go in for a `master policy' for insurance of borewells at the State level.

The mandal-level authority would be responsible for examining the feasibility of groundwater as well as electricity connection.

`Safe distance' norm

Mr. Srinivas said that the Government was considering regarding specifying a `safe distance' for digging new borewells under the Act.

This `safe distance' would depend on the soil and other geological features and would vary from one district to another.

He said that private qualified and certified geologists would also be allowed to give clearance for borewells but their performance will be monitored for success rate.

The Government would strictly implement the provisions of the APWALTA Act and borewell rigs which violate the norms would be strictly punished, he added.

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