Indore: The district administration on Tuesday directed all police stations in charges to take action against illegal digging of borewells, fixing their responsibility on finding any borewell being dug in their areas, without requisite permission.“We have written to all police stations in charges asking them to keep a check on digging of any borewell illegally. They will be held responsible if any borewell dug illicitly is found in their respective areas,” SDM Shreelekha Kshotriya told TOI.The instruction was given a day after Congress MLA Vishal Patel alleged that police officials were charging Rs 5000 to Rs 20,000 to lend their support in illegal digging of borewells.The administration has instructed cops to take appropriate action in case they find any borewell dug illegally. It, however, is yet to act against those, who obtained permission but misused it for their benefits.In June, 2018, a team of auditors from Accountant General (General & Social Sector Audit) Gwalior had randomly examined 58 permissions granted for borewells between 2013 and 2018.They found that at many places, borewells were being used for commercial and construction purposes. The team also found that at various places multiple borewells were dug as against the permission of one and their depth limit was also not maintained.Following the survey, all the SDMs concerned were instructed to carry out physical verification at the spots, where the auditors had found violation of rules set by Central Ground Water Board. They were also directed to take action against the violators, if found, under Section 15 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 that include imprisonment up to five years or fine up to Rs 1 lakh or both. But, until now, none of the SDMs concerned have submitted their verification report.The violators list had names including, Power Grid Corporation of India, Scheme Number 74, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Vishesh Diagnostic Centre and Rusoma Laboratories.Six months ago, too, digging of borewells illegally in Phoenix Township was reported. Reportedly, 45 borewells were dug within 24 hours in the township under support of a former MLA. The administration had launched a probe, but, any action in the case is yet to be taken.On Monday, an RTI activist Jagjeet Singh Chouhan, sat on dharna outside collector Lokesh Kumar Jatav’s cabin demanding probe in borewells dug in past 8 years decreasing the groundwater level to a new low.“I have all proofs to establish my allegation that in past 8 years, the authority has given permission for digging 3,500 borewells, while 4 lakh borewells have illegally been dug by water mafia in this duration. The precious clean drinking water is being used for commercial purpose, including, construction work. But no action is taken against them by administration,” Chouhan alleged.

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