The state government is contemplating imposing a flat rate of Rs 30 to 40 a kilo litre of ground water extracted for commercial purposes by metering the extraction. In the draft rules framed to implement the Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2011, the Mines and Geology department has proposed the government to introduce the tariff only in the over-exploited areas of the State.
Meters will be fixed to the pumps. Ground water in most parts of the four districts and some small pockets in other cities and towns has been already identified as over-exploited and these places are likely to be declared “notified areas” for strict regulation. The draft rules have now been placed before the Law Department for scrutiny. The government is likely to notify the rules in a week's time, inviting public objections, if any, official sources said.
People can continue using ground water free of cost for domestic purposes. But all the owners of borewells and open wells falling in the notified areas will have to register themselves with the proposed Karnataka Ground Water Authority, by paying a one-time fee of Rs 100.
Obtaining permission of the authority will be a must to dig a new borewell in the notified areas, as per the proposed rules.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been charging a flat rate of Rs 50 from every borewell owner (domestic) as sanitary charge.
Sale of ground water is a big business in the water-starved Bangalore urban and many districts surrounding it.
There are hundreds of private tanker-water supply agencies, that recklessly extract ground water and sell it for non-potable purposes, including building construction. A majority of the city dwellers are also depending on ground water for drinking purpose. Almost every household in cities, which has no piped water supply, has a borewell.
Of the 198 wards of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, only 125 wards are being provided with piped water by the BWSSB. It is estimated that there are over three lakh borewells in Bangalore city alone, resulting in over-exploitation of ground water.
The situation is so alarming in the four districts that there is a need for imposing a ban on extracting ground water. But in the absence of alternative drinking water source, it will not be feasible to implement any such ban. Hence, it was decided to strictly regulate only the commercial use to begin with, officials said.
The 17-member ground water authority with Minor Irrigation department Secretary as chairman is empowered to notify any area and regulate ground water usage. It also has powers to ban digging of new borewells and open wells in the notified area, if necessary.
Those who violate the stipulated rules are liable for punishment with a fine ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 or imprisonment of three months or a year.