Safety measures for open borewells

More than 27 million borewells exist in India.

Over 27 million borewells exist in India, many of which have dried up and are no longer in service. In such a case, the pipe and the iron cast are often removed, leaving an unfilled hole in their place. They are taken out to demonstrate that the well is no longer useful.

Over 40 children have perished after going into borewells since 2009, and over 70% of rescue efforts have been unsuccessful, according to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Since water is a state concern, open borewell statistics at the national level are scarce.

Exists a plan of action to solve the problem?

In 2010, the Supreme Court of India took action after receiving numerous reports of youngsters falling into borewells and imposed strict safety regulations on the state governments.

The regulations stipulate that any landowner must notify the concerned government officials at least 15 days before the building of a borewell. The district administration should require the drilling companies to register. We must put up barbed wire fencing and other barriers at the location.

What should be done?

Notably, one of the safety precautions also includes plugging defunct borewells with mud, sand, etc., until they reach ground level. The NDRF advises using dirt, stones, or clay to plug borewells after they have been deemed dead, which is the greatest way to prevent borewell deaths.

The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) data indicates that, among other things, borewells’ flimsy covering and a lack of warning signals are what lead to these mishaps.

However, the lack of penalties makes the public and drilling agencies careless and uneducated.

Why don’t rescue efforts turn out well?

According to the NDRF data, the most common factor in such fatal events is children playing near exposed, abandoned borewells. Borewells’ soft covers and a lack of warning signs are two other causes.

Because the borewell’s walls are rugged rather than smooth, a child who falls into it enters a pit where a pipe has been removed. There is scarcely any room to get the youngster out, and the type of soil surrounding the hole could cause it to collapse, according to a Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) official who wished to remain unnamed.

Rescue measures

The NDRF used creative techniques during rescue efforts, such as an “umbrella-like device” placed under the victim and opened up due to the overwhelming number of borewell deaths. Another method is “rope rescue,” in which the person is wrapped in a rope.

“These approaches are based on the NDRF’s experiences, and a technique will need to be used based on the situation’s specifics. We continuously work to make these techniques better.

The best way to stop borewell deaths is to shut them off after they are no longer used. The Supreme Court issued guidelines in February 2010 instructing all borewell owners to notify the district magistrate in question or another appropriate authority to fill up abandoned borewells to the surrounding land level. The NDRF advises using clay, stones, and mud for this.

Students created a robotic device to save kids.

A robotic device was created by a trio of APS Polytechnic students to rescue kids who fall into open borewells.

The robotic device uses a pneumatic cylinder and a compressor to produce a vertical movement. Robotic arms on the instrument assist in lifting the ked from the borewell. A high-definition camera and an oxygen meter are also included.

Conclusion

Finding the open borewells and filling them up is the only way to guarantee that deaths like these don’t occur. However, if it isn’t treated properly at the district and block levels, incidents like these will keep happening.