NAGPUR, MAR 10: Effective implementation of the Maharashtra Ground Water Act is necessary to prevent unrestricted use of ground water for agriculture purposes, J S Saharia, Divisional Commissioner, said here on Wednesday. He was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on `Implementation of Maharashtra Ground Water Act' organised jointly by the Ground Water Survey and Development Agency (GSDA) and UNICEF. K G Welekar, deputy director of Ground Water Survey, presided while Manu Kumar Shrivastava, district collector, and Anand Chole, deputy director, GSDA, were prominently present. Saharia further stressed the importance of conserving ground water resources and strengthening them as in many rural parts the drinking water schemes are based on ground water supply. He said that unless the Ground Water Act is implemented effectively, the conservation of surface water sources and the planning and regulation of ground water sources will not be possible. He said that the act provides that private dug wells cannot be constructed within a distance of 500 kms of each other. Similarly, the district collectors can stop pumping of water from wells in areas which have been over-developed in the first place. The collectors should thus remain alert in this respect and ensure that water is judiciously used. Welekar came up with ground water pumping statistics to say that the imbalance has been created in ground water sources due to over-development. This has led to shortage of drinking water in several parts of the state and requires prevention of unrestricted use of water. Shrivastava called for a more detailed act which will provide for penal action against unrestricted use of ground water. He said that such rules should be strictly implemented at the level of gram panchayat. The introductory remarks were made by Chole, the proceedings were conducted by S R Gaikwad, while R A Pendhare proposed the vote of thanks.
