Union Water Resources Secretary Upendra Prasad Singh has said that soon the State Governments would have a major role in groundwater regulation and conservation.
Singh said that the proposed guidelines would lead to strengthening the States’ role in ground water sector.
The Union Government has proposed new guidelines which stipulate that all industries, mining and infrastructure dewatering projects whether existing or new, that draw or propose to draw groundwater will now need to obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
The draft guidelines also propose to levy a new water conservation fee based on quantum of groundwater extracted, officials said.
The fee proposed is based on use, area and quantity and varies from Re 1 to Rs 6 per cubic metre. A cubic metre is 1,000 litres.
The Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has sent the draft guidelines for the issuance of NOCs to the State Government seeking feedbacks. Singh has requested the Odisha Government to provide feedback by December 22 so that the comments would be included in the guidelines, said sources.
The draft guidelines come after several orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asking the Government to ensure that groundwater withdrawal is in accordance with the law.
The major revisions proposed in the draft guidelines are about pan-India coverage, decentralisation of the NOC issuing authorities and introduction of a water conservation fee in lieu of recharge mechanism which would be used by States for effective groundwater management. It does away with provisions regarding artificial recharge and construction of artificial recharge structures by project proponents.
The guidelines state that the authority to issue NOCs for various uses will now be vested with the District Magistrates, State Groundwater Authority and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) based on factors like category of groundwater assessment units and quantum of groundwater.
However, farmers are exempt from obtaining NOCs. “Since livelihood of farmers is dependent on agriculture, they should be exempted from obtaining NOC,” the draft guidelines state.
“The revised guidelines are intended to further streamline the current application process and will lead to strengthening of States’ role in ground water regulation and management,” said Singh in his letter to the State Government, sources said.