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The State government has issued an order banning drilling of borewells in 35 taluks of the State, following over-exploitation of the water table in these places.

The Karnataka Groundwater Development: Control and Management Act, 2010, came into effect last month and sinking borewells has been banned in the following taluks:
Badami and Bagalkot taluks of Bagalkot district; Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Hoskote and Nelamangala taluks of Bangalore Rural district; Anekal, Bangalore East, Bangalore North and Bangalore South taluks of Bangalore Urban district; Athani, Bylahongala, Ramadurga and Savadatti of Belgaum district; Hagaribommanahalli and Hadagali of Bellary district; Chikkaballapur, Chintamani, Gouribidanur, Gudibande and
Shidlaghatta of Chikkaballapur district; Chitradurga and
Holalkere of Chitradurga district; Jagalur of Davangere
district; Bangarpet, Kolar, Malur, Mulbagal and Srinivaspur of Kolar district; Yelburga of Koppal district; Kanakapura and Ramanagar of Ramanagar district; Chikkan­ayakanahalli;Koratagere and Madhugiri of Tumkur district.

“Groundwater has been exploited up to 100 per cent in these taluks, pushing the water table down to dangerous levels, necessitating the ban,” S P Mallesh, senior geologist of the Mines and Geology Department, told Deccan Herald.
He said State and district-level committees had been formed for implementing the ban. No borewell for drinking water, irrigation, commercial or other purposes can be drilled by individuals or companies without taking approval from the committee headed by the deputy commissioner at the district level.

It has been made mandatory for everyone utilising groundwater to get their borewells registered. Farmers using borewells should submit a DD for Rs 50 and those using borewells for commercial purposes should submit a DD for Rs 500 through Form 4 to the senior geologist and the member secretary of the mines and geology department.
For new borewells, the fees remain the same, but should be submitted through Form 1-A. Borewells can be sunk only after an inspection and approval by the committee. Failing which, the borewell will be deemed illegal, attracting strict action.

The State-level committee comprises officials from 17 departments, while that at the district level, it will have officials from seven departments. The approval will follow discussions at the committee meetings and spot inspection by the geologists, only if there is scope for digging the borewells.