A local resident carries jarrycans of water on his bicycle in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

The demand for borewell drilling machines is at an all-time high in Ranchi as residents grapple with the dual torture of soaring temperatures and taps running dry, the civic body’s call for minimal exploitation of groundwater all but forgotten.

Agencies that carry out drilling jobs are finding it tough to meet the demand — 10 to 12 assignments every week compared to the four or five weekly last summer — and are cashing in by working almost round-the-clock.

“We are getting as many as 12 orders a week this year. Our drilling equipment is engaged everyday,” said Ashok Kumar, proprietor of Bhumi Jal Borewell, a capital-based agency.

Sunil Kumar Sahu, proprietor of Taja Pani, another agency which usually works for the state government and the civic body for installing hand pumps, too said this summer, demand for new borewells from private individuals was high.

Sahu, however, had a word of advice for all those opting for borewells on their premises — set up a recharge pit.

“All kitchen water and rainwater should be directed into it. This will help maintain the groundwater table,” he said.

Drilling is usually for four-inch diameter or six-inch diameter holes. While it costs Rs 65 per feet to drill four-inch wide holes, the cost is Rs 83 per feet for six-inch diameter. Last year, the rates were Rs 60 and Rs 78 respectively.

However, the cost factor has not deterred parched residents. While there are nearly 2 lakh households in the Ranchi municipal area, piped water reaches only 30,000 homes, while the rest are dependent on wells and borewells for water.

“My well is not able to generate sufficient water for the family and hence I am being forced to opt for a borewell,” said Kokar resident Ranjit Toppo, as a drilling machine got to work on Sunday.

For the last 10 days, the city has been reeling under 40°C plus temperatures. And the long hot spell without rains has sounded a death knell for wells.

In order to discourage deep boring, Ranchi Municipal Corporation had tried to enforce a rule requiring homeowners opting for borewells to show reason and seek permission before they could start digging. However, following protests from various quarters, the civic body postponed implementation of the rule.

Last month, a team of RMC visited a few municipalities to study the water tax system in order to revisit the rule imposing tax on installation of deep borewells, digging of wells and ponds.

“We have made some changes in the rule to tax setting up of borewells, wells and ponds. We are waiting for the Hatia bypoll, following which the new rule would be implemented,” said Suresh Sahu, chairman of the RMC Water Board.