The Hindu : Kerala News : Registration of wells: deadline fixed

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Registration of wells: deadline fixed

Staff Reporter

For borewells using pumps of 3 HP

Groundwater in five blocks in the State overexploited
Only Wandoor in Malappuram belongs the critical group

MALAPPURAM: Open wells and ponds using pumps of not less than 1.5 HP in the State should be registered with the Groundwater Department before February 5. Borewells using pumps of 3 HP or more should be registered. Failure to do so will invite a fine of Rs.500.

That was a point that came up for discussion at a seminar on groundwater awareness organised by the Department of Groundwater here on Friday. Heads of panchayats and municipalities from across the district took part in the half-day seminar.

Registration counters

Making a presentation on groundwater rules in the State, K.V. Mohanan, District Officer of the department, said groundwater registration counters would function in the 102 panchayats in the district from January 1 to 4. Registration forms would be available at the counters. A court fee stamp for Rs.5 should be affixed on the form. There would be no other charges.

He said the department would scrutinise the applications and issue registration certificates. Although the Assembly had passed the new groundwater law in 2002, it took another two years for the rules to be stipulated. The implementation of the new rules would begin in 2008.

Similar seminars were being held in other districts, aimed at creating awareness about the rules among the public through local body members.

Although there were 80 lakh wells in the State, hardly 7,000 of them had so far been registered. According to Groundwater Department officials, more than half the wells in the State need to be registered.

Nowhere else in the world could such a high density of wells be seen as in Kerala. The well density of the State was recorded between 250 and 600 a sq.km.

Groundwater in five of the 181 blocks in the State had been declared overexploited, where its use was more than 100 per cent. Wells and ponds in those blocks could not be dug without the permission of the department. None of them was in Malappuram district.

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