Capt: Plug open borewells, DCs to report in a day

Chandigarh, June 10

The Capt Amarinder Singh government today directed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure no such open borewell existed in any of the districts.

The DCs have been asked to submit a report within 24 hours. The state government has set up a helpline (0172-2740397) in Chandigarh to allow people to inform the authorities about open borewells in their area.

Nothing substantial has been done in the past to put an end to such incidents, despite standing instructions of the Supreme Court. It had in 2010 issued guidelines directing landowners to take permission in writing from authorities for digging borewells, put up signages and barriers around the site, construct cement platform around the well casing, cap off wells and fill unused borewells.

The DCs were supposed to ensure that all abandoned borewells were closed. — TNS