In Madhya Pradesh, district administrations declare both Indore and Jhabua water-scarce and impose immediate restrictions on private groundwater extraction. The measures include bans on private borewell drilling, with authorities also empowered to identify unauthorised water extraction and take action against violations.
In Indore district, the order is framed around a rainfall deficit and rapidly declining groundwater levels ahead of the summer months. Times of India and Free Press Journal report that private borewell drilling is prohibited until further orders, and Free Press Journal adds that the order is issued under the Madhya Pradesh Drinking Water Preservation Act (1986) and related amendments, with exemptions for drilling done under government schemes.
In Jhabua, Free Press Journal reports a wider set of restrictions, including limits on water extraction from multiple types of sources and a prohibition on private borewell drilling across the district. It also describes monitoring by municipal bodies and local institutions and warns of legal consequences for violators. Across outlets, the shared focus is the move to conserve water amid below-average rainfall and falling groundwater levels, with differing detail levels on the specific legal provisions and the scope of extraction limits.
