States Asked To Ban Digging Of Wells Where Water Table Is Low

The Centre has asked states to ban digging of new wells in areas where underground water has already been over-exploited. It has also suggested fixation of minimum distance between two wells in water-starved regions.

The areas which have become critical because of indiscriminate exploitation can be identified and notified in consultation with the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), taking into consideration data regarding water level trends in past 10 years. The situation can be reviewed after every three years.

These suggestions have been made in pursuance of the Supreme Courts order of December 10 last, directing the Union government to make the CGWB as the statutory ground water regulatory body under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.

 

The notification for constituting the Board as an authority for regulation, control, management and development of ground water was issued on January 14 this year.

The latest guidelines for regulating ground water exploitation provide for notification of areas having depletion level of more than four metres a year. No additional water structure can be allowed in such areas.

The position, however, is to be reviewed every year in such regions.

The members of the ground water authority have been authorised to look into any appeal against the notification.

To ensure effective enforcement of the curbs on over-exploitation, it has been suggested that water well contractors should be registered and asked to submit location of new wells to the ground water authority within 30 days.

Enumeration of state and private drilling rigs operative in various districts has also been suggested.

Though a Model Bill for promoting scientific management of ground water was prepared by the Centre and circulated to states way back in 1970, not many states have actually enacted legislation on these lines.

This Bill was modified in 1992, but still remained unimplemented.

The Centre has recently gone in for yet another revision in the Bill to make it up-to-date. The fresh draft has also been provided to the state governments.

The latest draft seeks setting up of ground water authorities at the state level. It also makes it obligatory for individuals to seek permission from these authorities before digging a well in notified areas for any purpose, including domestic use.

Small and marginal farmers have, however, been exempted from seeking prior permission on grounds of equity in the distribuition of resources.

But, even they would have to inform the authority of their intentions to construct a well in a critically exploited area.