State government issued ultimatum to close all open borewells by July 10

The state government on Wednesday issued an ultimatum to borewell owners to fill up and close open borewells before July 10 failing which the government will impose a fine of `50,000 and book a case of negligence against them.

Reviewing the status of borewells in Telangana with officials of ground water department, Panchayat Raj and rural development, minister for Panchayat Raj and rural development Jupally Krishna Rao directed officials to seize rigs which do not have the necessary permission to operate and also levy a fine of `1 lakh each.

Officials informed the



minister that as per the records available with the government, only 350 rigs had obtained permission. Responding to this, the minister asked officials to crack a whip against erring and illegitimate rig owners.The minister also made it clear that the onus of filling up and closing down the open and defunct borewells was on its owners and a case would be booked if they do not close such borewells. 

He asked village revenue officers, sarpanches and village secretaries to take up a survey in every village from June 29 to identify the open and defunct borewells.