Question : Registration of Bore Wells

(a) whether the Government is taking any corrective steps to contain the biggest problem of water shortage which the country is facing mainly due to over exploitation of ground water and random bore well digging without any approval and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the initiative the Government proposes to take for water management and making the registration of new bore wells compulsory before digging;

(c) whether the Government proposes to register the presently working open wells and bore wells across the country so as to maintain the record and control further exploitation of ground water; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the rules the Government proposes to draft in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION , ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS AND SHIPPING


(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *331 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.08.2018 REGARDING “REGISTRATION OF BORE WELLS” ASKED BY SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE, HON’BLE M.P.


(a) to (d) Ground water levels in various parts of the Country are declining because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization & urbanization etc.

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), constituted under Section 3(3) of Environment (Protection) Act, (1986), regulates extraction of ground water for industries/ infrastructure/ mining projects based on guidelines which are updated from time to time. Industries/ infrastructure/ mining projects withdrawing ground water are required to seek ‘No Objection Certificate’ for ground water withdrawal from the Authority. The current guidelines are applicable in States/ UTs which are not regulating ground water development.

Currently, there is no proposal for registration of existing / new wells across the country.

Water being a State subject, conservation, management and protection of water in the Country is primarily States’ responsibility. However, steps taken by the Central Government for conservation of ground water are available at the following URL http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/MeasuresForGW-Depletion_2.pdf.




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