Latest news with #CGWA
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
Wells to be monitored for illegal water extraction
Mumbai: For the first time since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) made the Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA)'s NOC mandatory in 2017, 620 wells out of nearly 18,000 in Mumbai have been brought on record so that their extraction and use can be monitored and charged. Most of these are bore wells. An RTI application by groundwater activist Suresh Kumar Dhoka has revealed that 619 wells have been given an NOC from the CGWA in the past few weeks and are being tracked for further vigilance by revenue and local administrations. It is due to Dhoka's crusade against the illegal commercial exploitation of wells for a decade that NOCs are now being made mandatory by BMC. The move, said Dhoka, will help the administration in conducting sustainable groundwater management during summer, besides checking the illegal exploitation of well water: tanker owners are estimated to have supplied water worth over Rs 3 lakh crore over the past two decades, supplying to even infrastructure project sites of govt agencies. Despite NGT directions in 2017 for mandatory NOCs, BMC gave permission to over 5,156 wells without well owners obtaining an NOC from CGWA. In 2021, there were only 12 wells belonging to industrial units in Mumbai that obtained an NOC. In all, Mumbai has over 18,000 wells, mainly borewells, tube, and ring wells, leading to heavy extraction of groundwater, especially during summer. As per groundwater rules, extraction of well water for commercial purposes without an NOC can attract criminal action under the Environment Protection Act, and the Mumbai police commissioner can file criminal cases under sections 379, 426, and 430 of IPC, for theft, mischief, and wrongly diverting water resources. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo If the well owners fail to obtain an NOC, a huge environmental compensation is imposed as per the Groundwater Act, which also empowers authorities to impose a fine of Rs 2-5 lakh and/or put the person behind bars for six months to one year for non-compliance with the Act. If tankers supply water from wells that have no NOC, such tankers can be sealed and a criminal offence registered against them for damaging the environment, said Dhoka. Around 3,000 tankers extract water from Mumbai's well daily; each tanker makes at least three to five rounds. The business of illegally extracted groundwater is worth around Rs 3-4 lakh crore, says Dhoka.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gurugram: Panel to probe illegal groundwater extraction yet to do inspection
Nearly four weeks after the Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA) formed a three-member committee to inspect 59 real estate developers, manufacturers and ready-mix concrete plants for illegally extracting groundwater, the committee has yet to conduct its inspection. Formed on April 16, the committee comprises Pankaj Mahla, chief hydrologist, HWRA, the district town planning department's enforcement officer, and regional officer of the Haryana pollution control board. It has been given until June 16 to submit its action taken report to HWRA. The 59 firms were issued notices four times previously to halt groundwater extraction without permission. If they fail to get permission within 21 days of the committee's inspection, then the district administration will seal and dismantle their groundwater extraction structures. 'Despite various opportunities, the companies have not sought permission for groundwater extraction and according to the inspection report, they are extracting groundwater illegally. As per the Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority Act, 2020, they are subject to strict action including sealing of groundwater extraction structures besides environmental compensation as per the notification dated 17.03.2022,' said an order issued by Keshni Anand Arora, chairperson, HWRA on April 16. 'A joint committee is hereby constituted which will visit and inspect the premises of these project proponents to establish whether illegal extraction of groundwater is being done and direct them to seek permission for groundwater extraction immediately as per the provisions contained in the HWRA Act, 2020 and serve them show cause personally or affix it on the premises of the respective project proponent,' the order said. HWRA is the primary agency overseeing water management in the state. The HRWA chairperson has ordered district magistrates to cooperate with the committee and provide them with security forces during their inspection. The committee's action report will have to be submitted to the authority by the next hearing on June 16, 2025, the order said. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has declared Gurugram a dark zone due to depleting groundwater levels. According to a CGWA report last year, the groundwater extraction rate in the city is 308%, and use of groundwater in construction is banned. Gurugram has a daily water demand of 870mld (million litres per day) of which 570mld is supplied by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority from canal water, and rest is supplied through groundwater by the public health department, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, and developers in the city.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Groundwater Rules Tightened For Industries & Flats: CGWA Tells HC
Nagpur: Groundwater rules have been tightened for industries and apartments, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) said in an affidavit submitted to the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. This submission follows a Rs5,000 cost imposed on the affidavit informs that it is now mandatory for all new and existing industries, infrastructure and mining projects, and residential apartment complexes in urban areas to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before extracting groundwater, unless explicitly exempted. This requirement follows a 2020 notification issued by the ministry of Jal CGWA, operating under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, filed its response to a PIL submitted by city-based petitioner Sandesh Singalkar through counsel Smita Sarode Singalkar. The PIL raises concerns over unregulated groundwater extraction and contamination across affidavit, affirmed by the head of office at CGWA's Central Region, outlines the steps taken to regulate groundwater extraction and ensure recharge. It also provides an updated assessment of groundwater levels and quality in the city over the past two to the affidavit, CGWA monitors groundwater levels in Nagpur from 81 stations four times a year. During the pre-monsoon season of May 2023, the water levels ranged between 1.82 to 13.3 metres below ground level (mbgl), with 58% of the city showing water depths of 2-5 mbgl. In 2024, the levels remained largely similar, with shallow depths (<5 mbgl) observed in 42% of the the post-monsoon season (Nov 2023), the levels ranged from 0.3 to 9.95 mbgl, improving significantly due to rainfall. The Nov 2024 readings were also encouraging, with 98% of the city having groundwater levels shallower than 5 seasonal fluctuation between pre and post-monsoon periods in 2023 showed an average rise of 2.03m, while the average rise in 2024 was around CGWA also tested 57 groundwater samples in May 2023 for 14 key parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity, major cations (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium), and anions (carbonates, bicarbonates, chlorides, sulphates, nitrates, and fluoride). The water was found to be neutral to mildly alkaline (pH 7.1–8.2), with most samples suitable for drinking purposes as per BIS address depletion and contamination, CGWA submitted a list of steps taken to avoid pollution of groundwater sources and promote artificial recharge. These include the construction of recharge pits and the implementation of water harvesting affidavit was filed in compliance with the court's directive dated March 26, 2025, asking for details on groundwater status, contamination prevention, and recharge efforts in Nagpur.
