(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to check the expanding business of water;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the total quantity of water being used in the business of bottled drinking water each year;
(d) whether any research report has pointed out that this business is gradually leading to corporatization of water;
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS ( SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) & (b) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has notified 82 areas (Districts, Blocks, Mandals, Talukas,
Municipalities) for regulation of ground water development. In these areas, installation of new ground water abstraction
structures is not permitted without prior specific approval of the Authority / Authorized officer.
Moreover, proposals for setting up/ expansion of ground water based industries including bottled water
manufacturing units are forwarded by State Pollution Control Boards and Bureau of Indian Standards to CGWA for seeking
No Objection Certificate (NOC) for ground water withdrawal. NOC is not accorded to such industries including bottled water
manufacturing units proposed to be located in areas notified by the Authority. In non- notified areas, NOC is issued
with mandatory pre-conditions of adoption of rain water harvesting system, monitoring of ground water abstraction as
well as monitoring of ground water level and quality etc. by the industry. For enforcement of the regulatory directions
issued under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, concerned Deputy Commissioners/ District Collectors
have been authorized to take necessary action in case of violations of directives of CGWA in the notified areas.
(c) Ministry of Water Resources has not carried out any study regarding total quantity of water being used in
the business of bottled water. Central Ground Water Authority has issued NOC to 115 packaged drinking water / soft drink
units permitting maximum quantity of ground water withdrawl of 19142.67 m3 /day.
(d) Ministry of Water Resources is not aware of any research report which points out that bottled drinking water
business is leading to corporatization of water.
(e) Does not arise.
(f) In areas notified by the Central Ground Water Authority, Chief Officer-in-Charge of Revenue in the district
(District Collectors/ Deputy Commissioners/ District Magistrate) has been appointed as the Authorized Officers to take
up various regulatory measures in notified areas. As per information available, details of action taken against violations
in some districts during the last three years are given below:
S.No. State No. of violations reported Action taken by the DC during last three years
1. Haryana Gurgaon - 338 Action taken as per provision of the law Mahendragarh – 1
2. Rajasthan Complaints were received DC has constituted 8 teams to check the borewells. from parts of notified blocks The checking teams are authorized to seal the borewells. of Jaipur district