Panaji: In a matter pertaining to 70 illegal borewells in Chimbel, the High Court of Bombay at Goa directed the Executive Engineer (North), Division-I, to act on the Water Resources Department’s report and, if required, seal all 70 borewells found at the site or any others in the vicinity sunk without requisite permission.
“Upon the completion of the sealing process, the Executive Engineer shall place before us the report of the action taken…List on May 5, 2026,” the High Court said.
The court also directed the Chimbel panchayat secretary to assist the Executive Engineer, and the PI of Old Goa Police Station to provide adequate police force to ensure the sealing, while observing that there was a likelihood of resistance or threat to authorities during the sealing of borewells.
The Water Resources Department had inspected the site and submitted a report on February 4, 2025, recording that more than 70 borewells had been illegally sunk.
The report said that these borewells were located within 15m of the nearest well and also near soakpits or septic tanks and that water from these borewells was being pumped out and transported elsewhere.
The borewells had been in existence for more than 10 to 15 years, as per the report. The department had issued several show-cause notices, including one to the panchayat secretary under Sections 5(3) and 6(1) of the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act, 2002, and the Rules of 2003.
However, no action was taken, allegedly due to replies filed by residents stating that there was no supply of water from the PWD water line.
Petitioner Ana Gracias annexed photographs to the petition, obtained under the RTI Act from Water Resources Department records, which allegedly showed water drawn from borewells being pumped into tanks or tankers and taken away from the site.
The High Court said that, considering the material on record, it was prima facie satisfied that there were at least 70 illegal borewells in the area referred to in the report.
