JK Govt asks people to register tubewells, borewells within 15 days

Srinagar, Jan 15 (KF): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has asked people including Government, Semi-Government Or individual persons to register bore wells and tube wells within 15 days.

Department of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Ground Water Division Srinagar, has issued a public notice on Wednesday mandating the registration of bore wells and production wells across Kashmir Province.

Executive Engineer PHE Ground Water Division, Srinagar said the directive, based on the Jammu & Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKWRRA) regulations of 2010 and 2011, aims to regulate groundwater usage and prevent exploitation of this vital resource.

He said as per the act, it is mandatory for all individuals, firms, industries, factories, institutes, organizations, workshops (whether government, semi-government, or private) constructing, operating, or using bore wells or production wells within their premises or jurisdiction in Kashmir to register these wells with the Department of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Ground Water Division Srinagar.

“This registration must occur within 15 days from the date of construction. However, most of these entities have failed to do so until now,” He added.

The notice requires all individuals, firms, industries, factories, institutes, organizations, and workshops—whether government, semi-government, or private—constructing, operating, or using bore wells deeper than 65 feet to register these wells within 15 days. Non-compliance will result in strict action as per JKWRRA rules, the department warned.

Additionally, users already registered with the department have been instructed to clear any pending dues within the same timeframe. The department has cautioned that defaulters’ names will be published in newspapers, followed by legal action.

The PHE Division has urged public cooperation to regulate and conserve groundwater resources in Kashmir and has appealed to citizens to report any misuse of groundwater in their respective areas.

For further information, assistance, or to report grievances, citizens have been asked to contact the nodal officer, Er. Syed Iqbal Rizvi, at 9906629565. – (KF)