PIL seeks implementation of SC guidelines on borewells

Close on the heels of the death of a girl after falling into an abandoned borewell near Villupuram, a PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court bench here seeking a direction for a report from all Collectors in the state on action taken by them on implementation of guidelines issued by the Supreme Court to prevent "borewell deaths".
The petitioner B Dhanasekaran claimed borewells were becoming death traps across the country and in Tamil Nadu itself, hundreds of deaths had been reported.
This showed the failure on the part of the authorities in discharging their duties to safeguard the people, he charged.

The Supreme court had issued guidelines, which included conditions that the land owner should inform authorities before starting borewell works, borewell should be barricaded and abandoned borewells should be closed, but these were not followed, he submitted.
He prayed the court to direct the government officials including the Home Secretary to strictly implement the apex court guidelines.
The three-year-old girl, who fell into an abandoned borewell was rescued after a 19-hour-struggle on April 6, but later died in hospital.