CGWA to make NOC mandatory for all industries, projects

The Central Ground Water Authority has proposed to make it mandatory for all industries and projects to seek its "no objection" for using ground water irrespective of when they came into existence, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Presently, only new and industries seeking expansion fall under the purview of the CGWA guidelines framed in the year 2012.
Union Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat shared the information while responding to questions whether the CGWA has introduced new rules/norms regarding extraction of ground water.
Jat replied in affirmative and said the CGWA has proposed revision of the guidelines issued in the year 2012 in compliance to the directions of various orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The NGT would bring the existing industries/units under the ambit of ground water guidelines, he said.
"Some of the major amendments proposed in the guidelines include obtaining NOC for ground water withdrawal (to be) made mandatory for all industries/projects using ground water irrespective of its date of coming into existence, category of the area and quantum of ground water withdrawal," he said.

Jat added that in order to make gainful use of saline ground water, it has been specified that NOC for using saline ground water could be considered for all kinds of industries/projects in notified and over-exploited areas.
A processing fee of Rs 1000 for fresh NOC and Rs 500 for renewal of the same has been provided for, the Minister added.

The Minister further informed the CGWA has received suggestions/objections over the proposed amendments as on December 16 and the same are under examination.