How to curb bore well deaths? What do experts say?
Posted on: 17/Apr/2014 9:50:30 AM
Tamil Nadu has recorded various bore well accidents has detailed below:
The 18-month-old boy falling into a borewell in Tiruvannamalai district is the third such incident in the last 10 days
April 14 - G Harshan (4) fell into a 400-foot borewell in Kuthalaperi village near Sankarankoil - Rescued after 6 hours
April 6 - R Madhumitha (3) fell into a 500-foot borewell in Villupuram district - Rescued but died in hospital
Sept 29 - 13 P Devi (4) fell into a borewell in Pulavanpadi village near Arni | Rescued
April 27 - 13 Muthulakshmi (7) fell into an improperly closed 900-foot borewell at Suryapalli village in Karur district - Died
Sept 7 - 11 Sudharsan (4) fell into a 200-foot borewell at Kailasanathapuram village in Tirunelveli - Died
Aug 09 - K Gopikumar (3) slipped into a dry 18-foot borewell at Andampallam village in Tiruvannamalai district - Died
Feb 09 - Six-year-old boy fell into a 450-foot deep borewell at Rajdhani village near Andipatti in Theni district - Died
A curious blend of factors leads to such tragedies, experts point out. During a year when the monsoon fails, water levels dip and consequently, piped water supply is inadequate, the challenge is for people of the State to find alternative water sources.
M. Karmegam, former director, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, said the State is a semi-arid region and the rainfall it receives only partially meets its water requirements. In drought areas such as Thiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, people now sink borewells up to 400 feet.
Mr. Karmegam said the State must set up a groundwater monitoring authority to check the indiscriminate drilling of borewells. “Village Administrative Officers should be given the responsibility,” said a senior Fire Service officer. As of now, people close the mouth of the borewells with gunny bags or plastic covers. It should be closed with cement blocks, said the expert.
C. Sylendra Babu, ADGP, who was part of a borewell rescue operation in Chennai in 2001, said the only way to prevent such incidents was to install at least semi-permanent structures around the pits. “We have given instructions to place proper barricades around the pit as well as heavy steel or concrete slabs over them,” he said.
