India, Feb. 26 -- Bengaluru has officially stopped granting permissions for drilling borewells due to the rapidly depleting groundwater levels, as reported by The Times of India. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) ceased accepting new applications a week ago and has committed to monitoring groundwater levels throughout the year.

The decision stems from concerns over the city's limited groundwater recharge capacity while water extraction remains alarmingly high. The BWSSB took note of a report from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), which warned of a severe drop in groundwater levels, especially as summer approaches.

According to report, the board typically receives between 200 and 300 applications for borewell dr...