(a) whether the Government has any plan to bring a legislation to regulate ground water use to protect the interests of farmers and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has received any report/ recommendation from any experts committee in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is taking any measure to regulate the ground water use in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)
(a) Water is a State subject and therefore, bringing out suitable legislations fall under the ambit of States/UTs. However, this Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs for suitable enactment. So far, 19 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislations.
Further, this Department has issued guidelines for regulation and control of groundwater extraction in India with pan-India applicability on 24.09.2020. Under the guidelines, Ground water extraction for Agricultural activities falls under exempted category. Further, to improve groundwater resources through water conservation/water harvesting, Central Government has taken a number of measures which can be seen at the URL:
http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_depletion_Feb2021.pdf.
(b) No sir.
(c) & (d) With a view to facilitate sustainable development of ground water, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is presently issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to project proponents including industries in 20 States/Union Territories (UTs) as per the extant ground water regulation guidelines. In balance States/UTs they are regulating as per their extant provisions. The provisions of the guidelines can be seen at URL: http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/CGWA_GWExtraction_Notification_24-09-2020.pdf.
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