📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / John Hoey from Framingham, MA, United States
Local
Indore Municipal Corp to Ban New Borewells Amid Falling Groundwater Levels
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 13 Oct 2026, 08:31 AM
👁 11
The Indore Municipal Corporation has drafted a proposal to halt the drilling of new borewells from November, citing a sharp drop in groundwater after more than 10,000 wells went dry in March.
Indore officials are preparing a formal ban on the excavation of new borewells, a measure aimed at curbing the rapid decline of the city’s groundwater table. In March this year, over ten thousand existing borewells ran dry, forcing residents to rely on water tankers for daily needs.
The municipal corporation’s proposal, slated for submission in November, seeks to restrict any new drilling until a comprehensive assessment of the aquifer’s health is completed. Authorities warn that without such intervention, the groundwater level could fall further next year, exacerbating water scarcity.
City engineers and water experts have highlighted that unchecked borewell extraction has outpaced natural recharge, especially during the dry season. The proposed moratorium is part of a broader strategy that includes promoting rainwater harvesting and improving the efficiency of existing water supply systems.
If approved, the ban will apply to all private and commercial entities seeking fresh drilling permits. The corporation plans to monitor compliance through regular field inspections and satellite-based groundwater mapping.
Stakeholders, including local farmers and industrial users, have been invited to a public consultation later this month to discuss alternative water management solutions and the timeline for implementing the restriction.
The municipal corporation’s proposal, slated for submission in November, seeks to restrict any new drilling until a comprehensive assessment of the aquifer’s health is completed. Authorities warn that without such intervention, the groundwater level could fall further next year, exacerbating water scarcity.
City engineers and water experts have highlighted that unchecked borewell extraction has outpaced natural recharge, especially during the dry season. The proposed moratorium is part of a broader strategy that includes promoting rainwater harvesting and improving the efficiency of existing water supply systems.
If approved, the ban will apply to all private and commercial entities seeking fresh drilling permits. The corporation plans to monitor compliance through regular field inspections and satellite-based groundwater mapping.
Stakeholders, including local farmers and industrial users, have been invited to a public consultation later this month to discuss alternative water management solutions and the timeline for implementing the restriction.