Madras: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to close all abandoned borewells and quarry pits in Thoothukudi district within six weeks. The abandoned borewells in Thoothukudi have become a serious public safety concern, as uncovered wells and pits can cause fatal accidents involving people and animals.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court also directed the authorities to submit a compliance report after six weeks to show whether the safety measures have been completed.
Thoothukudi Borewell Safety: Madras High Court Issues Six-Week Deadline
A division bench of the Madurai Bench, comprising Justice P. Velmurugan and Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan, passed the order on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
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The court issued the direction while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by SMA Pon Gandhimathinathan, a resident of Thoothukudi.
The petition requested the court to direct the authorities to identify and secure abandoned open wells, borewells and stone quarry pits across the district.
The court has given the Tamil Nadu government six weeks to complete the required safety work. The matter will be taken up again after this period for a compliance report.
Thoothukudi Borewell Safety: Open Borewells And Quarry Pits Raise Safety Concerns
The petitioner told the court that several unused wells, borewells and stone quarry pits were still left uncovered in different parts of Thoothukudi district.
Many of these dangerous locations are reportedly situated near public roads, increasing the risk of accidents.
An uncovered borewell or deep quarry pit can become a deadly trap for people, especially children. Cattle and other animals are also at risk of falling into these open spaces.
The petitioner argued that these dangers could be prevented if authorities properly inspected the locations and took the necessary safety measures.
Fatal Road Accident Highlighted In The Petition
The safety concerns are linked to a tragic accident reported in Thoothukudi district. According to reports cited in the proceedings, on May 17, 2025, a car travelling from Coimbatore towards Tiruchendur fell into an uncovered well near Meerankulam-Chinthamani Road. Five people, including an infant, reportedly died in the accident.
The petitioner referred to this incident to highlight the dangers of leaving open wells and other hazardous structures without proper protection.
Supreme Court Guidelines On Abandoned Borewells
The petitioner also referred to the Supreme Court’s order dated August 6, 2010, which laid down safety measures to prevent fatal accidents involving abandoned borewells and tube wells.
Under these guidelines, abandoned borewells must be properly filled with materials such as clay, sand, boulders, pebbles or drill cuttings. The filling process must continue from the bottom of the borewell up to ground level.
The guidelines also require authorities to maintain records of abandoned and operational borewells.
Officials must conduct random inspections to check whether abandoned borewells have been properly closed. A certificate from the concerned department must also confirm that the abandoned borewell has been filled safely.
Tamil Nadu Government Had Issued Safety Directions In 2023
The petitioner further referred to directions issued by the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary in July 2023.
Under these directions, District Collectors were asked to identify abandoned open wells, borewells, construction pits and quarry pits through field inspections.
The authorities were also asked to take suitable safety measures to prevent people and animals from entering dangerous areas.
These measures included installing strong protective barriers around open wells and fencing abandoned quarry pits. However, the petitioner argued that despite submitting representations to the authorities and requesting proper inspections across Thoothukudi district, effective action had not been taken.
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FAQs
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has given the Tamil Nadu government six weeks to close abandoned borewells and quarry pits in Thoothukudi district.
The Madras High Court issued the order because uncovered borewells, open wells and quarry pits pose serious risks to people and animals. The direction followed a PIL highlighting the dangers of these unprotected locations.
The Supreme Court guidelines require abandoned borewells to be filled with clay, sand, boulders, pebbles or drill cuttings up to ground level. Authorities must also maintain records, conduct inspections and obtain confirmation that abandoned borewells have been properly secured.
