Ground Water Clearances

Extraction of Ground Water for any purposes is strictly governed by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). Central Ground Water Authority has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control development and management of ground water resources in the country. Various activities related to regulation of ground water development in the country are being looked after CGWA.

CGWA has formulated its guidelines for grant of NOC for withdrawal of groundwater by industries, infrastructure projects or mining projects. These guidelines keep getting revised from time to time. In order to have a uniform policy for regulation of ground water development over the entire country, these guidelines for grant of NOC are applicable in all the States and Union Territories and have to be strictly followed. The applications for NOC are to be submitted online (www.cga-noc.gov.in) and depending upon the quantum of ground water abstraction required and category of the area, the applications get channelized to the appropriately designated authorities.