Aagya Khabar,
Bardibas
Experts have raised serious concerns that the rampant and unregulated practice of ‘deep boring’ across various parts of the Terai-Madhesh region is leading to an impending groundwater crisis. They argue that boring without safeguarding long-term water sources is putting environmental balance at risk.
Recently, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli instructed the drilling of 500 deep borings to address irrigation problems in the region. However, water and environmental experts are worried about the implications of such a large-scale operation without adequate study.
“Study First, Then Act,” Say Experts
Dr. Basanta Adhikari, Director at the Center for Disaster Studies under the Institute of Engineering, emphasized the need for scientific study of groundwater recharge capacity and source structures before conducting any boring in the Terai.
“Without understanding the recharge process, the state of water sources, the dryness of the area, and the depth at which tube wells are effective, boring cannot be a long-term solution,” says Adhikari. “Even the studies conducted so far have failed to clearly map the status of underground water.”
He stressed the importance of an integrated approach to water resource management by both provincial and federal governments, especially considering the additional impacts of climate change.
Failed Borings in the Past: A Warning from Chure Experts
Bhola Bhattarai, a water and environmental expert specializing in the Chure region, warns that continuing deep boring without concrete studies will only worsen the crisis. According to him, around 70% of the deep borings previously drilled are no longer functional.
“We don’t have a comprehensive database of groundwater levels in specific areas,” Bhattarai says. “Just because a location appears dry doesn’t mean indiscriminate boring is a solution—it may actually create more problems.”
He believes the implementation of the 20-year master plan of the President Chure-Terai-Madhesh Conservation Development Committee could bring long-term improvements not only in water resources and biodiversity conservation but also in local livelihoods.
Ministry Team Report: Borings Ineffective
A high-level team from the Ministry of Irrigation, which recently conducted field visits across districts in Madhesh Province, reported that the recent deep boring initiatives have shown limited success. The report states that nearly 300 deep borings were drilled since the last quarter of the current fiscal year, yet most have not been effectively operational.
Short-Term Solutions Should Not Create Long-Term Crises
Experts stress that solving irrigation and drinking water issues in Terai-Madhesh must go beyond providing immediate relief. They call for the formulation and implementation of sustainable water policies based on an understanding of geological, climatic, and social structures. Without this, they warn, groundwater scarcity could threaten not only agricultural systems but also the very livelihood of people in the region.
