(a) whether the Government has any plan/proposal to ban the extensive exploitation of ground water for soft drink products;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the State Governments including Orissa have submitted any memorandum in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in that regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES, PUBLIC ENTERPRISES AND WATER RESOURCES (SHRI SONTOSH MOHAN DEV)
(a)&(b) In order to regulate ground water withdrawal by
industries including aerated drink manufacturers, Central
Ground Water Authority (CGWA), constituted under Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986, had circulated a list of critical
areas to State Pollution Control Boards, Ministry of
Environment & Forests etc. which refer proposals of new
industries to CGWA for obtaining No Objection Certificate
(NOC) before issuing permission. Depending upon the
availability of ground water and site specific scientific
considerations in such areas, NOC is granted by the CGWA on
case to case basis. A pre-condition for such
permission is the mandatory adoption of rain water
harvesting system for ground water recharge by the industry.
Since licensing authority for any industry is the State
Government/State agencies/State Pollution Control Board, any
action to ban the exploitation of ground water by soft drink
companies is to be taken by them.
(c)&(d) No memorandum for banning the exploitation of
ground water for soft drink products has been received in
the Ministry of Water Resources/CGWB from the State
Governments including that of Orissa.