Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SHS/SP)
Bantwal, Aug 5: About six weeks ago, a small boy had lost his life in a tragedy which occurred in Bijapur district. The government, which awoke to the catastrophic risks posed by abandoned borewells, had asked district administrations to take steps to either erect fences around these wells, cap, or fill them. Although the government had ordered compliance of these instructions forthwith, many are yet to act.
The current incident in which a boy from Bagalkot district has got struck in a failed borewell has triggered the panic button again. It is surprising that a number of borewells continue to be left open even now in coastal Karnataka, as the concerned have ignored the risks posed by them.
Peruvai gram panchayat in Bantwal taluk has failed to do anything about two failed borewells located in the premises of Taridala Anganwadi centre in Kukkaje since the last three years. These borewells are not yielding any water since the last two or three years. Children of the Anganwadi routinely move around these open borewells. Another unused borewell situated about 300 metres away from these wells, have been filled by the children, who dutifully poured mud and rocks inside it over months. Locals say that these children have now begun the task of filling the above two borewells, thereby taking interest in doing a work which the local panchayat is expected to do.
Speaking to daijiworld, Peruvai gram panchayat secretary Ashok N G said that the borewell remained open due to some conflict between the panchayat members. He claimed that though it had been closed, it was opened again by some members due to differences. He also assured that on the borewell was closed on Sunday August 4 after mediapersons focussed on the issue.
Another borewell rigged by the roadside near Seva Sangama school in Tekkatte, Kundapur taluk, Udupi district, has also gone defunct. This borewell is not easily visible, and is waiting for victims. The locals have asked the officials to act before it claims any lives.
Moodbidri happens to be the only area where response to the urgency of the situation has been phenomenal. Already 30 unused borewells there have been closed by capping them. The district administration says it is yet to receive progress reports on this task from other regions.
Sources in the office of the deputy commissioner in the city said that a progress review meeting on the compliance of the order issued by the district administration to close unused borewells and stone quarries, is being held on August 8. In Udupi district, this meeting is being held today. Udupi district administration has received compliance reports about closing or fencing of some of the laterite stone quarries from among a hundred quarries which were identified as risky.