Faridkot,24 June 2025 : District Magistrate of Faridkot, Madam Poonamdeep Kaur (IAS), exercising powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, has issued instructions regarding the digging and repair of wells, borewells/tubewells in the district. In light of incidents where people, especially children, have fallen into uncovered or unprotected borewells in both urban and rural areas—resulting in serious loss of life and property—these orders have been issued to ensure public safety, following the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and directions of the Punjab Government.
According to the orders, any landowner intending to dig or repair a well or borewell within Faridkot district must inform the District Collector, concerned Gram Panchayat Sarpanch, Municipal Council, Public Health Department, and Soil Conservation Department at least 15 days in advance. All agencies involved in digging or repairing (government/semi-government/private) must be registered. At the site, a visible signboard must be installed displaying the full address of the drilling agency and the landowner, along with the registration number of the drilling agency.
The area around the borewell must be secured with barbed wire fencing and covered with a steel plate locked using nuts and bolts. The well or borewell cap should be fixed tightly with the casing pipe using nuts and bolts. A concrete platform must be constructed around the well/borewell measuring 0.50m x 0.50m x 0.60m, with 0.30m above and 0.30m below ground level. If any space is left after digging or repair, it must be filled with soil or sand, and the land restored to its original condition. No well or borewell is to be left open under any circumstances. Defunct wells must be completely filled with clay, stone, or concrete from bottom to top and sealed properly.
No individual is permitted to dig or repair a well or borewell without the written approval and supervision of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department. In rural areas, the Sarpanch and officers from the Agriculture Department, and in urban areas, officials from the Public Health Department, Soil Conservation, Municipal Councils, Junior Engineers, and Executive Officers must submit monthly reports. These reports must include details of how many wells/borewells were newly dug, repaired, in use, or filled. One copy of the report must be kept as office record, and another sent monthly to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Faridkot. Proper record maintenance will be ensured by the department. These orders will remain in force until August 16, 2025.
Summary: District Magistrate mandates permits, safety measures, registration, sealing of defunct wells, rainwater harvesting, and regular inspections to regulate groundwater extraction and prevent hazards.