Shillong: Shillong is hunting down every bore and dugout well in the city. The state government launched a massive survey this August to track both registered and unregistered water extraction points. The mission is simple: map every structure to ensure public safety and bring law to the city's groundwater usage.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal directed the push. He chaired a meeting with the Water Resources Department and the District Disaster Management Authority to kick off the work. Key players included DDMA Chief Executive Officer Shanborlang Warjri, the local executive engineer, and the district disaster management officer.
Officials will coordinate with community leaders to find every hidden well. Teams plan to geotag each site to build a permanent database. Experts will then inspect the structures for structural integrity and compliance. If a well is unsafe, owners will be ordered to close it down immediately. Those with safe wells will get maintenance advice instead. Officials say the government will handle unauthorized sites on a case-by-case basis. "The drive is intended to bring accountability to groundwater extraction in Shillong while balancing public safety with the needs of existing well owners."
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