CGWA levies high fee on industry for ground water extraction in critical zones

TNN Bureau. Updated: 12/13/2018 7:54:24 PM National

New Delhi, Dec 13 (UNI) To better regulate extraction of ground water, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has issued revised guidelines through a notification that levies steep Water Conservation Fee (WCF) for drawl of ground water by industry in over exploited and critical areas of the country.

The new guidelines will be effective from June 1, 2019, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation said in a press note issued here on Thursday.

``The WCF will compel industries to adopt measures relating to water use efficiency and discourage the growth of packaged drinking water units, particularly in over-exploited and critical areas,' it said.

Water audit by industry has been made mandatory.

India is the largest user of ground water in the world, extracting ground water to the tune of 253 bcm (billion cubic meters) per year, which is about 25 per cent of the global ground water extraction.

As per the revised guidelines, exemption from requirement of `No Objection Certificate' (NOC) has been given to agricultural users, users employing non-energised means to extract water, individual households (using less than 1 inch diameter delivery pipe) and Armed Forces Establishments during operational deployment or during mobilisation in forward locations etc.

Ground water extraction in India is primarily for irrigation in agricultural activities, accounting for nearly 228 BCM (Billion Cubic Meter), which amounts to 90 per cent of the annual ground water extraction.

The remaining 10 per cent of extraction (25 BCM) is for drinking and domestic as well as industrial uses.

Industrial use is estimated to account for only about 5 per cent of the annual ground water extraction in the country.

According to the CGWA, the high rates of WCF that will be levied are expected to discourage setting up of new industries in over-exploited and critical areas as well as act as a deterrent to large-scale ground water extraction by industry in such areas.

The WCF payable varies with the category of the area, type of industry and the quantum of ground water extraction.

It is designed to progressively increase from safe to over-exploited areas and from low to high water consuming industries as well as with increasing quantum of ground water extraction.

Citing compliance of the direction of the National Green Tribunal the CGWA, constituted under the Ministry, said the revised guidelines are geared for use of recycled and treated sewage water by industries, provision of action against polluting industries, mandatory requirement of digital flow meters, and digital water level recorders (with or without telemetry depending upon quantum of extraction).

The guidelines make roof to rain water harvesting mandatory except for specified industries.

They also spell out measures to be adopted to ensure prevention of ground water contamination on the premises of polluting industries/ projects.

Of a total of 6584 units assessed in the country, 1034 have been categorised as ‘Over-exploited’, 253 as ‘Critical’, 681 as ‘Semi-Critical’ and 4520 as ‘Safe’.

The remaining 96 assessment units have been classified as ‘Saline’ due to non-availability of fresh ground water due to salinity problem.


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