BENGALURU: Amid the water crisis, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has said it will take legal action against those drilling unauthorised borewells within the city limits.

Starting March 15, people can seek permission for drilling borewells by submitting their applications on the official website of the Board and approval will be granted based on site inspection by the concerned officials, it said.

BWSSB said in an order that before drilling borewells for personal or other use in Bengaluru city, it is mandatory to obtain permission from concerned authorities as per section 11 of Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2011.

It cited lack of adequate rainwater as a reason for decline in ground water level and said many borewells in the city have dried up.

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Officials also suspect that ground water level in the city is also decreasing due to "unscientific drilling" of borewells.

According to the order, borewells should be drilled only in those places where permission has been granted by the concerned authorities and if they are done in unauthorised places, legal action will be taken as per rules.

The order comes just days after BWSSB banned usage of potable water for non-essential purposes -- cleaning vehicles, construction of buildings and roads, for entertainment purposes or decorations like fountains -- in Bengaluru and stated that violators would be fined Rs 5,000.

Malls and cinema halls are permitted to use potable water only for drinking, according to the March seven order.

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed the Class XII board examinations scheduled in Middle East countries due to the prevailing situation in the region.

In a circular issued on Monday the board informed principals of its affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that the examinations planned from March 12, Thursday to March 16, Monday have been postponed.

“After a critical review of the current situation in parts of the Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE), mental agony of the students and the prevailing uncertainties, the Board has decided to postpone the examinations scheduled from 12 March 2026 (Thursday) to 16 March 2026 (Monday). The new dates shall be announced later,” a release from the board added.

The board also stated that it will review the situation again on March 14, Saturday and take appropriate decisions regarding the remaining examinations scheduled from March 16 onwards.

“After a critical review of the current situation in parts of the Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE), mental agony of the students and the prevailing uncertainties, the Board has decided to postpone the examinations scheduled from 12 March 2026 (Thursday) to 16 March 2026 (Monday). The new dates shall be announced later,” a release from the board added.

The board also stated that it will review the situation again on March 14, Saturday and take appropriate decisions regarding the remaining examinations scheduled from March 16 onwards.