NGT slams UP, U'khand for 'inaction' on illegal extraction of groundwater

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday slammed the Uttarakhand and the Uttar Pradesh governments for their "inaction" over large-scale illegal extraction of groundwater in 'critical' and 'semi-critical' zones in the states.

The NGT directed both the state governments to take remedial action in respect to individual industries as well as general measures to ensure that there is no extraction of groundwater without prior permission of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

"Before any such permission is granted, the CGWA may ensure actual compliance of conditions of replenishment of groundwater with regard to the water table in areas so that there is no further deterioration of 'critical', 'semi-critical and 'over exploited' areas in terms of ground water availability," a bench headed by the tribunal's Chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, said.

The NGT said that "any permission should be given based on study of availability of groundwater and periodical report that replenishment had resulted in improvement in ground situation."