BWSSB’s Borewell Ban Ignored as Illegal Borewell Digging Continues In Whitefield

Residents of Hamlet Layout, near Whitefield, have raised concerns over illegal borewell digging in their locality despite an official ban. The incident has sparked outrage among locals, as groundwater depletion remains a critical issue in the region.

Despite strict regulations and repeated warnings from authorities, such violations continue to occur, further straining the area's already stressed water resources. Concerned citizens have urged the authorities to take immediate action to stop unauthorized borewell drilling and strictly enforce the ban.

BWSSB's Ban on Borewell Drilling

It must be noted that, in response to Bengaluru's worsening groundwater crisis, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has prohibited borewell drilling across the city. This move comes after scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) warned about critically low groundwater levels for the third consecutive year. The ban, initially introduced to tackle the severe summer water shortage, has now been extended indefinitely to protect the city's dwindling water reserves. Violators face strict legal consequences under state government regulations.

BWSSB has stopped accepting applications for new borewells, citing two primary reasons: excessive groundwater extraction without sufficient recharge and IISc reports highlighting dangerously low water levels in 80 city wards. BWSSB Chairperson Ram Prasath Manohar emphasized that Bengaluru must reduce its reliance on borewells and instead focus on optimizing the distribution of Cauvery water to address the crisis.

Although the ban remains in place, BWSSB had temporarily allowed borewell drilling in 2024 due to the delayed rollout of the Cauvery 5th Stage water supply project. A senior BWSSB engineer stated that, during this period, borewells were the only viable option to meet the city's water demands. However, with Cauvery water now reaching more areas, BWSSB has reimposed strict restrictions on borewell drilling.

Despite these regulations, the agency has left room for exceptions. Government departments may apply for borewell permissions on a case-by-case basis, subject to thorough scrutiny.