Over the past few years nearly 33% of wells have been found declining water levels by 1-2 meters, which is a key issue that everyone overlooks. The Central Groundwater Board performs analysis on groundwater level resulting in a tremendous decline in ground water level every year.

Government and regulatory bodies have implemented some restrictions that says any Industry, or project should have a proper CGWA NOC before extracting Ground water to save groundwater and ensure responsible water usage especially in those areas where water scarcity is common.

Failure to adhere to the rules made by the government without informing or taking a preliminary approval from Central Groundwater Administrations may result in penalties.

Objective of CGWA NOC:

The objective of the CGWA NOC is to make sure that groundwater extraction is being performed systematically. This implementation aims CGWA to prevent groundwater depletion, protect the environment, and reduce the impact of water scarcity which is the serious cause.

There are varied activities that are performed by industries, Infrastructure projects, Mining operations, bottled water plants which require huge amounts of groundwater extraction. By mandating the NOC requirement, the Central Groundwater Administration wants to balance economic development and environmental sustainability.

How to get CGWA NOC

• 1. Submit Application : It is very important to submit all your information to the CGWA in which the amount of ground water required should be clear, specifying the genuine purpose and make sure to mention the source of groundwater extraction.
• 2. Site Inspection
• 3. NOC Issuance
• 4. NOC Compliance Monitoring

Who has to apply for NOC by CGWA?

Given are the following situations where groundwater extraction has to be practiced, and one has to apply for its renewal by CGWA –

• Commercial Use
• Drinking & domestic use for societies, residential apartments, and Government water supply in the urban areas.
• Industrial Use
• Commercial units extracting groundwater.
• For mining Projects
• NOC for drinking and domestic use for the workforce & green belt by the industries will be permitted.
• Infrastructure Projects
• New and existing mining projects must get CGWA NOC for groundwater abstraction.
• Bulk Water Supply
• Private tankers getting groundwater and using this to supply water suppliers now will compulsorily have to get NOC for the abstraction
• New housing buildings and infrastructure projects will need dewatering during the construction or make use of groundwater for such same purpose. In both cases, applicants will get a No Objection Certificate before starting their work. Current infrastructure projects should seek a No Objection Certificate to extract groundwater abstraction.

Advantages of CGWA NOC:

When you issue NOC by CGWA, it assists in several groundwater management:

• Sustainability: CGWA NOC makes sure that groundwater extraction remains within sustainable limits, and abundant availability.
• Environmental Protection: By regulating groundwater extraction, CGWA helps protect the environment and maintains the ecological balance of ecosystems dependent on groundwater.
• Water Security: Effective groundwater management through NOC sticks to a more reliable and stable water supply.
• Data Collection: The process of issuing NOC also helps CGWA gather valuable data on groundwater availability, usage patterns, and aquifer health, aiding in better decision-making.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria?

You have to first find out in case you’re eligible for the NOC from CGWA; check out the Eligibility Criteria before you proceed on the CGWA website.

• Fresh and saline water is a type of water that you would like to use.
• Industrial, Mining, and Infrastructure are the 3 primary industry segments where you belong.
• Whether you are establishing the new plant or you are extracting water for the existing plant and your location.

What’s the process for the CGWA NOCAP application online for the Groundwater abstraction?

• Firstly, an applicant needs to visit the website of CGWA and complete the process.
• Click for the water extraction on the NOCAP application online.
• Submit the documents stated, with Water Balance Diagram, Rain Water Harvesting, Municipal NOC, and others at the CGWA official website.

What’s the process for the CGWA NOCAP application online for the Groundwater abstraction?

• TOR or EC or Approval letter from the statutory organizations like the Ministry of Environment & Forestry, State Pollution Control, State Level Appraisal Committee, and Environment Impact Authority.
• A location map & site plan will be needed
• The government-approved lab will conduct the groundwater QA report on all the current tube wells. According to Application form 17(e)
• A letter of authorization will be needed from the authority.
• Application form No.19, the detailed report on the groundwater conditions over 5 km of an area will be needed.
• Groundwater regime wells have to be shown on the map.
• At every stage of this process, the flow chart will be shown depicting the right amount othe f water required & recycled water used.
• Rainwater harvesting or artificial recharge proposal.

Who are exempted from obtaining CGWA NOC Renewal

Given are some of the categories of users who will be exempted from obtaining NOC for the groundwater extraction. Just because NOC will not be granted to the given categories, ensure these users will also be exempted from the CGWA NOC renewal.

• Individual and domestic consumers in rural and urban areas for drinking water and other domestic uses.
• Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces in rural and urban locations.
• For all types of agricultural activities.
• Drinking water schemes in rural areas.
• Micro & Small Enterprises who are extracting groundwater below 10 cum per day.

CGWA Penalty

According to the new guidelines published by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), it is stated that getting NOC is made compulsory for all industries and operations that are extracting above 10 cubic meters of water from the ground. Besides, the system will be operated using new technology, the customers need to create Internet-of-Things (IoT)-linked monitoring platform to keep track of the operations. If any customers or industries are observed not following the protocols will be fined up to 2 Lakhs INR.

Who are exempted from obtaining CGWA NOC Renewal

India is the largest supplier and user of groundwater in the world. CGWA is regulating groundwater development for sustainable management in our nation through various measures like issuing public notices, granting of NOC, and advisories for groundwater withdrawal.

The Authority has framed various guidelines for its approval and renewal of the NOC by CGWA to get groundwater withdrawals that are revised regularly. These revised guidelines mainly aim to make sure the robust and proper groundwater regulatory mechanism has been implemented in our country. The future policy to manage groundwater resources effectively in our country envisages the constitution of the State Groundwater Authorities also with technical support from the Central Government.

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