The Ministry of Industry is responsible for designating regions as ground water areas, issuing directives and enforcement. The director general of the department of mineral resources is responsible for administrating the Act including the processing of permits and registration of wells. The act is being implemented in areas where ground water resources are particularly critical and are threatened by over exploitation and pollution. Penalties for violations include fines, imprisonment and confiscation of equipment. A policy has been adopted of not granting permission to construct new wells in areas where there is an adequate public water supply.
Ground water is under a totally private legal regime in India.
Rights in ground water belong to the land owner. It forms part of the dominant heritage and as with land ownership is governed by the tenancy law of the state. The transfer of property act necessitates that the right to ground water can be given to anyone only if the dominant heritage is transferred. In short ground water is attached like a chattel to land property. There is no limitation on how much ground water a particular land owner may draw.