File affidavit on illegal borewells at Chimbel, HC directs WRD

Panaji: In the PIL concerning illegal digging and construction of borewells, and the extraction of groundwater at Chimbel, the high court on Tuesday directed the water resources department to file an affidavit indicating the steps it initiated and the probable timeline within which concrete action could be initiated and concluded.The division bench comprising Justices Suman Shyam and Amit S Jamsandekar sought the affidavit within four weeks. It also issued notice to the secretary and sarpanch of the Chimbel panchayat.When the PIL came up before the HC on Tuesday, additional govt advocate Akshata Bhat stated that the WRD had issued show cause notices. She assured concrete action to ensure that no illegal digging and extraction of groundwater through borewells took place.Convener of Chimbel’s village development committee, Ana Gracias, filed the PIL stating that borewells in the area are illegal and that statutory authorities responsible for protecting groundwater sources failed to take action against violators.Gracias is seeking directions to seal illegal borewells, as well as directions to the panchayat, the public works department, and the electricity department to immediately take strict action on unauthorised digging and construction of borewells for commercial purposes in the village. The unauthorised digging of borewells and illegal transportation of water has caused water levels to deplete, she submitted.