Elixir of life - RTI or not to RTI

Vikram and his RTI questions!

King Vikram, undeterred as ever, went right back to the ancient tree, brought down the corpse (vetal or betal as you know it) and slung it over his shoulder. As he started moving towards the cremation ground, the Vetala spoke up once again...

It was February 2017. One fine morning while I was walking around my farm, an excited farmer in my village ran up to me, shouted  '1500!' and disappeared...

The source of his joy was Water, water that he found by drilling a bore well to the depth of 1500 feet. It cost him 300,000 just to dig the well. He is probably talking to NASA now to provide him a submersible pump that would lift water from this depth...

This utterance of a simple number sent my head spinning, In order to fix it, I asked Google god few questions about, well, Water!

Not satisfied with what I found, I shot off these questions to the government authorities through Right To Information (RTI) Portal:

1. I need a copy of Government policy on digging bore wells in India.

2. I need the rules (dos and don'ts) for digging such bore wells for drinking water purpose and irrigation purpose. 

3. I need to know how deep a bore well can be dug (maximum permitted level).

4. I need a copy of India's Water Table measuring, recharging and protection policy.

5. Kindly let me know which authority is responsible for Water Table Management in India.

6. Kindly send me the Water Table level data across India for the past 25 years if such data exists.

After a few months of suspense, I received a couple of replies from different government bodies that are responsible for water management.

Here are the replies:

Point #1 and #2

does not pertain to member (SAM) cell.

My reaction: SAM? Come on. Tell me WHO can give me the details...

Point #3

Depth of bore well to be constructed depends on Hydrological conditions and the purpose for which it is being constructed. However for withdrawal of groundwater, permission from CGWA (Central Ground Water Authority) is to be taken before construction of bore well.

My reaction: No farmer has knowledge about hydrological conditions and I seriously doubt whether we have such data compiled across the terrains of India and whether such data is available in public domain...

Point #4

Kindly refer to National Water Policy 2012 in this regard.

My reaction: I did. It is beautiful. It points to lot of 'to do' stuff which have not seen light of the day yet.

Point #5

Central Ground Water Authority and State Ground Water Authorities / Departments are taking care of Ground Water Management and regulation in India.

My reaction: OK, Now I shall search for such authorities in my State.

Point #6

Reply of this pertains to NDC, CGWB, Faridabad.

My reaction: Open Mouth!   The reply actually came from CGWB, Faridabad! 

Stumped Man!

Here I am, 3 months after my query, still no clue about all those things which are crying for attention. Farmers in my region are meanwhile coupling two submersible pumps together and extracting water from depths close to 2000 feet...

I too (like Vikram) am undettered. I hope to get real meaningful answers for my questions at least before my villagers sell their 'everything' to run that single bore well that would bring Ganges back to their farm and make them super rich at the wave of a magical wand...Baheeratha may be proud of them but not me!