Chennai: In a move to ensure that no more life is lost to unused borewells, the Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage Board has asked the engineers to take necessary steps to convert the borewells into rainwater harvesting units.
In a circular issued by TWAD Managing Director C N Mahesvaran here Tuesday, 24-hour deadlin has been given to the engineers.
“The unused borewells may pose threat to public. There may be chances of children and cattle falling into them. TWAD will take action against the erring officials,” the communication said.
Mahesvaran said the TWAD maintains 556 combined water supply augmentation projects and 4.23 crore people in nine corporations, 66 municipalities, 347 town panchayats and 48,948 villages are benefiting from the projects. Barring Chennai, the TWAD Board supplies 1,906 MLD water to the people.
The department has already given guidelines about rainwater harvesting.
A detailed plan has been given to district Collectors, DRDO and district TWAD officials regarding the measures to save rain water and augmentation of water resources with the help of GPRS.
Mahesvaran also appealed to the public and NGOs to collect the details about how to convert unused borewells into rainwater harvesting units.
He also assured that the department officials will help in all possible ways.