The architectural tradition of Kerala always associates a pond with a temple and a well with a household. In the olden days, houses didn’t face shortage of clean drinking water as the wells were full throughout the year. As the number of houses were less and most of them were closer to farmlands, digging wells were fairly easier then.
Besides, with ample rainfall, the water level in the well wasn’t a problem. However, now, real estate and construction have become a major business sector and the number of houses has skyrocketed in Kerala. Moreover, these days, houses are built even on smaller plots with less area.
The demand for wells hasn’t gone down even if the house stands on a smaller plot. So, gradually the number of wells too increased with rise in the number of new houses. But, with more wells came more grievances and disputes between owners.
While some people complain that the water in their well got reduced because the neighbour too dug a well, others are bothered by the septic tanks that are constructed close to the wells. Meanwhile, there have been countless cases of compound walls being destroyed when wells are dug or the tree branches that shed leaves into the well.
The secretary at the local self-government departments may have to take action if the well is dug without following the guidelines. The guidelines for digging wells are included in section 75 of the Kerala Panchayat or Municipality Building Rules. As per this law, no one is allowed to dig a well anywhere in Kerala without the approval of the concerned LSG secretary.
The first step is to submit an application on Appendix A1 to the secretary. Besides, a site plan that includes the spot and measurements of the well as well as all the constructions within 7.5 metre diameter of the well should be given. Section 23 of the Act states that the distance from the road to a well should be equal to that of a building.
The well should be at least 1.20 metres away from all other boundaries other than roads. Besides, well should be dug 7.5 metres away from the septic tanks and other waste dumping sites in one’s own plot as well as the neighbour’s plot (earlier, it was 15 metres).
The well could be outside the building, closer to the building or even inside the building. However, open wells should have railings of up to 1 metre height. When the application is approved, the applicant could pay the stipulated fee and secure the permit. After the construction, it should be notified to the secretary in writing.