1. Local regulation in Groundwater
Case Study:
Ban on Boreholes
Village Maramreddypalli
Nellore, Andhra Pradeh, India

2. Maramreddypalli: mountains and paddyfields

3. In Village Maramreddypalli groundwater has stabilized at
15 meter (40 feet)

4. Unlike other parts of Nellore District where groundwater tables have fast declined in the last fifteen years

5. This was achieved through:
Measures to capture rainwater
Measures to reduce water loss
Ban on borewells - except for drinking water

6. Water Management Strategy of Maramreddypalli
Use open dug wells
Main irrigation tank
Mini tank
Channel lining
Rain-fed farming

7. Open well

8. The Main Irrigation Tank: 25 ha

9. Percolation tank - restored with help of women

10. No borewells (tubewells) are allowed for agricultural use!
Only open wells for agriculture:
Operated with diesel pumpsets

11. Borewells are only allowed for drinking water

12. To reduce water losses, water from open wells is conveyed through pipes and tubes

13. Irrigation canals are kept in order
Lined
With shade trees

14. Apart from paddy…

15. Rain-fed crops also still important
Millet and sunflower

16. The ban on borewells was introduced in 1995 by the Village Government in consultation with elders

17. This followed the severe water shortage of 1992-1994
Moreover, following the expansion of inland shrimp fishery from 1990 onwards everyone had seen wells falling dry and even drinking water supply being jeopardized…

18. The ban on boreholes continues to be supervised by village government

19. And supported by the local consensus that: We don’t want bore holes The tube well culture brought our country to deteriorating conditions”
Subba Reddy
Sreenivasulu

20. Enforcement In 2001 one person started drilling a borewell at midnight
All villagers – including women – and the village committee forced him to stop
Afterwards no one has attempted to drill a borewell

21. With assistance of Marleen Nooij
Acknowledgement
This case study is based on the work of TM Gowri Shankar, Remede, Nellore (India)
With assistance of Marleen Nooij