Home / In the News / May 09- May 15, 2026 / THE SILENCING OF CHIMBEL’S WATERS!By Raaisa Lemos Vaz
THE SILENCING OF CHIMBEL’S WATERS!By Raaisa Lemos Vaz
No Comments on THE SILENCING OF CHIMBEL’S WATERS!By Raaisa Lemos Vaz

THE SILENCING OF CHIMBEL’S WATERS!By Raaisa Lemos Vaz

In the News, May 09- May 15, 2026 May 8, 2026 , by

Under pressure from the local MLA Rudolf Fernandes, the sealing of the 70 illegal bore wells in Chimbel, has been stalled. But there is fear that there are thousands of illegal bore wells across the states providing tanker water to tower blocks….

IN the quiet, elevated terrain of Dharwadkar Colony in Chimbel, Goa, a crisis has been brewing beneath the surface — literally. What began as a struggle for basic survival has transformed into a high-stakes legal battle involving the high court of Bombay at Goa, the Water Resources Department (WRD), and a sophisticated network of illegal water extraction. At the heart of this controversy lie the 70 illegal bore wells, a desperate resident population, and the looming spectre of a “water mafia” that capitalizes on administrative failure.
 The situation in Chimbel reached a breaking point in late April and early May 2026. Acting on public interest litigation and detailed Right to Information (RTI) findings, the high court issued a stern directive to the WRD to seal 70 unauthorized bore wells in Dharwadkar Colony. These wells, many of which had been operational for over a decade, were found to be in gross violation of the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act.
The discovery was startling not just for the volume of wells, but for the lengths to which operators went to hide them. During WRD inspections, officials found bore wells concealed under debris, wooden planks, and scrap metal to evade detection. The court expressed “grave concern” over how such a high density of illegal extractions could persist in a single colony without the knowledge — or perhaps with the unseen complicity — of local authorities.
For the residents of Dharwadkar Colony, the reality is survival. The colony is situated on a steep hill, a geographical feature that has historically hindered the Public Works Department’s (PWD) ability to provide consistent piped water. Residents claim that for years, their taps have run dry, leaving them with no choice but to dig deep into the earth.

STATE FAILURES
AS of May 2026, the water shortage has reached critical levels. Protesters who blocked WRD officials from sealing the wells argued that the government was “punishing the thirsty for the failures of the state.” They contend that while the 70 wells exist, they serve the domestic needs of approximately 45 householdswho have been abandoned by municipal infrastructure. However, the sheer number — 70 wells for 45 houses —suggests a ratio that goes far beyond individual domestic use, pointing toward commercial exploitation.
 In Chimbel, RTI evidence revealed that several of these “domestic” wells were connected to high-capacity storage tanks and tanker loading points.
This “bore well mafia” operates in the gap between demand and supply. They extract groundwater from these residential areas and sell it to industrial units or private tanker. By selling a public resource back to the public at exorbitant prices, they create a perverse incentive for municipal water supplies to remain inefficient. Furthermore, the commercialization of these wells leads to continuous pumping, which prevents the natural recharge of the aquifer, effectively “mining” the water until the source is depleted.
The environmental impact of these 70 bore wells extends far beyond the borders of Dharwadkar Colony; such as:

  1. Saline Ingress
    Being a coastal state, Goa’s freshwater aquifers exist in a fragile balance with the Arabian sea. Excessive pumping creates a “cone of depression,” allowing saltwater to rush inland into the aquifer. Once this happens, the water becomes permanently unfit for consumption.
  2. Proximity to Contamination
    In the dense settlement of Chimbel, many of these 70 bore wells were found dangerously close to soak pits and septic tanks. Without proper casing and legal setbacks, the deep groundwater is being contaminated, posing a massive public health risk of waterborne diseases.
  3. Drying of Traditional Sources
    Deep bore wells act like giant straws that “suck” water away from traditional, shallow open wells and natural springs in the valley below. By drilling deep, the colony is effectively stealing the water that would have naturally emerged for the rest of the Chimbel village.
    This forces us to face the actuality that groundwater is not an infinity pool for our greed to swim in but a delicate system that ultimately sustains our parched lives.
    AS the WRD continues its crackdown under the watchful eye of the high court, the 2026 crisis in Chimbel serves as a warning for the rest of Goa and India. The “bore well mafia” can only thrive where the state fails to provide. Resolving the crisis requires a two-pronged approach: rigorous enforcement of groundwater laws to prevent environmental collapse, and an immediate, transparent effort by the PWD to provide piped water to the hilltop colonies.
    Without a sustainable solution, the 70 wells of Chimbel will remain a symbol of a broken system where the basic human right to water is caught between the greed of humans and the rigidity of the law.

No related posts.

Search

Back to Top