HKS raised illegal bore well & possession of ground water issue

Himachal Kisan Sabha  drew the attention deputy commissioner Shimla over prevailing water crisis and capturing of ground water by the hotel mafia alleging that bore well are being dug in the hills town and suburbs .  A Delegation of Himachal Pradesh Kissan Sabha led by Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar met with Deputy Commissioner Shimla Aditya Negi in Wednesday submitted a memorandum to protect the natural water sources of villages adjacent to towns, cities and towns or tourist places.  Dr Tanwar told us that Kissan Sabha raised an issue of illegal, unregulated, unregistered extraction of groundwater in the knowledge of Deputy Commissioner Shimla. He said that Influential people are extracting ground water arbitrarily , regardless of the rights of the local people. He said that local are granted in the revenue system having granted or  recorded right ‘Wazib – ul – Arz’ could not be deprived of water . He said that it prohibits illegal claims on water sources  without the permission of the local panchayat and claimants . He said that number of villages in outskirt of Shimla in Kasumpti constituency are facing water crisis moreover   hoteliers, private institutions or people who have purchased land in rural areas.  Privately, businessmen use all the water for their commercial work by installing bore wells in the land. He said that  water tanker mafia is also very active in the local panchayats, which is selling water from local sources even without a permit.  He said that it is is drying natural water sources in the surrounding villagers of Shimls town as local residents are facing severe water crisis. He said that to stop similar practice  state  has issued a notification with reference to Himachal Pradesh Ground Water ( Regulation & Control of Development and Management ) Act , 2005 on dated  August 9 2011 in eight  8 sub – divisions including  Nalagarh (Solan ), Paonta and Nahan(Sirmaur ) ,  Amb and Una  , Nurpur and Jawali (Kangra). He said that notification emphasis  the right of control and management of ground water goes to the ‘ Ground Water Authority ‘ which may allow the extraction of ground water keeping in view the local conditions .  Himachal Kisan Sabha has also raised this issue with the previous government and has demanded that the laws and rules made on ground water extraction should be implemented more strictly in the entire state.

  Kisan Sabha expresses its gratitude to the State Government has proposed amendment in the Himachal Pradesh Ground Water ( Regulation and Control of Development and Management ) Act , 2005 so as to bring in sync with guidelines of Central Ground Water Act ( CGWA ) dated 24-09  -2020 and also in compliance of the direction of Himachal Pradesh High Court in CWP – 1809 of 2018. There is no underground water in the mountains like the plains , but there is water flowing from inside the mountain , which if it is obstructed by digging , then all the sources below it can dry up, Dr Tanwar cautioned the state. Kisan Sabha demanded that it should be ensured in the law that no private person, institution, commercial organization or society could extract ground water through borewell, tube well and hand pump without the permission of the Gram Sabha and the entitlements, even if it is in their private premises. Illegally dug borewells should be stopped immediately and the guilty should be fined. Every water tanker should be registered and it should be checked from which source they draw water. The details of water tanker sources of all commercial establishments , hotels etc. to be recorded.  A large number of construction work is going on in the newly settled cities . These include private commercial complexes, private educational and health institutions or private cells being built by wealthy and influential people. Instead of proper disposal of the excavated soil , the builders throw it in the nearby drains , which is drying up the natural water sources of the local people  After construction , without proper arrangement for sewage and sewage . disposal , it is also left open in the local drains. Even the hotels or institutions which have installed sewerage plants , they are just for show , they are also taking advantage of the rain and draining the sewage in the open , due to this many water sources are getting contaminated .Dr Tanwar said seeking to curb above irregularities.