Due to gross negligence, the people of this region have to depend on the rains for water to irrigate their fields, and on water tankers to supply their drinking water. Kolar district has the dubious distinction of overusing its ground water resources.

Over the last ten years, the number of borewells has risen by an average of five times; however, no attempts have been made to conserve the groundwater resources of the region. Which probably explains why no water has been found in several instances, even though the borewells were dug at least a thousand feet deep!

Borewells that have been dug recently have had to reach at least 1,250 feet below in order to get water, as per the information provided by Dr Shashil Namoshi, President of the Dr Nanjundappa Report Implementation Committee, who visited the spot last month.
Dr Namoshi had expressed his surprise and regret at the fact - for such a situation does not exist even in the drought-stricken areas of Gulbarga and Raichur.

A look at the facts and figures of the last 10 years:

In 1997, Kolar taluk had 4,670 borewell; by 2007, the number has increased by four times, to 16,389. Similarly, Bangarpet taluk, which had 2286 borewells in 1997, now has a total of 14,434 (a six-times increase). Malur had 4408 borewells ten years ago, but now has 12,197. The number of borewells in Mulbagal taluk has increased from 1381 to 12,431 (eleven times the original) over the last decade. Srinivasapur taluk, which had 3345 borewells in 1997, had 10,071 in 2007. The total number of borewells in the district has gone up to 65,522 from 16,180 borewells in 1997.

In the two-and-a-half years since 2007, approximately 20,000 borewells have been dug. The Department of Mines and Geology estimates that the district has a total of 75,000 borewells.

Unauthorised borewells

Now, the department does not suggest that borewells be dug. As a result, the number of unauthorised borewells being dug up is increasing steadily. The district now has a borewell for every five hectare.

According to the Ground water rejuvenation Committee, it is safe to use only 70 per cent of the underground resource and if its exceeds above 100 it is not safe. But Kolar is in danger as about 200 per cent of the underground water resource is being used here which poses a threat of non availability of water in the next few years.

“The rain water should be collected in lakes which will increase the underground water system. New borewells should not be dug for at least five years from now”, says senior Scientist A N Rajanna of the Department of Mines and Geology.

The funds allotted by the government, to the Zilla Panchayat, for supply of drinking water, have to be used. The project that will supply water from the River Hemavati needs to be implemented. If the resources are available, arrangements can be made to supply water from the reservoirs. But all this requires political will. In a district that lives, eats and breathes politics, is there no time to spare a thought to the water problem?