Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Water Conservation Fee
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV

## *84.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *84

ANSWERED ON 08 . 02.2018

## WATER CONSERVATION F EE

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK SHRI SATAV RAJEEV

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has come out with draft guidelines which stipulate that the e new industries, infrastructure and mining projects hav e to obtain a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) from district and State level authorities for drawing ground water and if so, the detail with the objectives behind the move;

- (b) whether comments have been sought from States and Union Territo ries on these guidelines and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the draft also proposes to levy a new water conservation fee and if so, the along with the criteria fixed for determining the said fee; and

(d) whether these guidelines are likely to further destroy our ground water life line as the d State level entities may not understand the implication of giving NOCs and if so, the cor taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION, ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS AND SHIPPING

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM G ADKARI)

(a)to  (d)     A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART S (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *84 TO  BE  ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA ON  08.02.2018  REGARDING  ' WATER CONSERVATION FEE' ASKED  BY SHRI  DHANANJAY  MAHADIK  AND  SHRI  SATAV RAJEEV ,M.Ps

(a) to (d) Yes, Madam.  Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA ) has prepared draft guidelines which  stipulates  existing  &  new  industries,  infrastructure  &  mining  projects  etc.  to  obtain  'No Objection  Certificate  (NOC)'.  The  draft  guidelines,  inter - alia,  include  Pan  India  coverage  and decentralization  of  NOC  issuing  a uthority  including  State  and  district  level  authorities.    D etails of authorities from whom the industries, infrastructure and mining projects etc., will have t are given at Annexure I

-The draft guidelines have been circulated to all stakeholders including States and Union Territories comments, which shall be examined by an expert committee. In the draft guidelines framed by CGWA, it is proposed to levy a water conservation fee f of 'No Objection Certificate (NOC)' for ground water abstraction.  The rates of water conservatio have  been  proposed  based  on  the  quantum  of  ground  water  abstracted,  category  of  groun assessment unit and use of ground water.  Details of rates proposed are given at Annexure -II. The draft guidelines are intended to further streamline the current application process an strengthening of States' role in ground water conservation and management. Implementation of these guidelines will lead to sustainable management of groun d water. Also, 13 States/ Union Territories a already  regulating  ground  water  development  through  Ground  Water  Act  or  through  Govern Orders.  Further, trainings / workshops shall be held for the capacity building of officer issue NOCs. State Level Advisory Committees will have representative from the respective R Offices of the Central Ground Water Board. Other steps taken by the Central Government for conservation of ground water are availa following URLhttp://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/MeasuresForGW - Depletion\_1.pdf .

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Annexure referred in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Starred Q.No. *84 to be answered in Lok Sabha on 08.02.2018 regarding ' Water Conservation Fee '

| Quantum of ground water abstraction                                      | Quantum of ground water abstraction                                | Authorized Organization                       | Officer   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------|
| Safe and Semi - Critical Assessment units                                | Critical and Over - exploited                                      |                                               |           |
| Up to 50 m 3 / day except thoseproposing to tap aquifers                 | saline Up to 20m 3 / day except those proposing to tap aquifers    | saline District magistrate/ Commissioner      |           |
| > 50 -500 m 3 / day Upto 500 m 3 / day for those tapping saline aquifers | >20 - 200 m 3 / day Upto 200 m 3 / day for tapping saline aquifers | those State Ground Water / State Nodal Agency |           |
| >500 m 3 / day                                                           | >200 m 3 / day                                                     | Central Authority                             | Ground    |
| All cases pertaining to mining and infrastructure                        | All cases pertaining to mining and infrastructure                  | dewatering Central Authority                  | Ground    |

/

Deputy

Water

Water

Annexure referred in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Starred Q.No. *84 to be answered in Lok Sabha on 08.02.2018 regarding ' Water Conservation Fee '

## Water Conservation Fee

Rates of water conservation fee are based on the quantum of ground wat er abstracted, category of ground water assessment unit and use of ground water.  The following rates of water conse fee are proposed :

## I.   Packaged drinking water/ mineral water/ soft drinks/ breweries/ distilleries

| S.No.   | Category of area   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   |
|---------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.   | Ground             | < 500 m 3 /day                                      | 500 to <1000 m 3 /day                               | 1000 to <5000 m 3 /day                              | 5000 m 3 /day and above                             |
| 1.      | Safe               | 0.90                                                | 1.00                                                | 1.10                                                | 1.20                                                |
| 2.      | Semi- critical     | 1.00                                                | 1.10                                                | 1.20                                                | 1.30                                                |
| 3.      | Critical           | 1.10                                                | 1.20                                                | 1.30                                                | 1.40                                                |
| 4.      | Over-exploited     | 1.20                                                | 1.30                                                | 1.40                                                | 1.50                                                |

## II.   Other Industries :

| S.No.   | Category of area Ground water use   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee(Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee(Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee(Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee(Rs. per m 3 /day)   |
|---------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.   | Category of area Ground water use   | < 500 m 3 /day                                     | 500 to <1000 m 3 /day                              | 1000 to <5000 m 3 /day                             | 5000 m 3 /day and above                            |
| 1.      | Safe                                | 0.70                                               | 0.80                                               | 0.90                                               | 1.00                                               |
| 2.      | Semi- critical                      | 0.80                                               | 0.90                                               | 1.00                                               | 1.10                                               |
| 3.      | Critical                            | 0.90                                               | 1.00                                               | 1.10                                               | 1.20                                               |
| 4.      | Over-exploited                      | 1.00                                               | 1.10                                               | 1.20                                               | 1.30                                               |

## III.   Mining/ Infrastructure Dewatering Projects :

| S.No.   | Category of area Ground water use   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   | Rate of Water Conservation Fee (Rs. per m 3 /day)   |
|---------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.   | Category of area Ground water use   | < 500 m 3 /day                                      | 500 to <1000 m 3 /day                               | 1000 to <5000 m 3 /day                              | 5000 m 3 /day and above                             |
| 1.      | Safe                                | 1.50                                                | 1.70                                                | 1.90                                                | 2.00                                                |
| 2.      | Semi- critical                      | 2.00                                                | 2.20                                                | 2.40                                                | 3.00                                                |
| 3.      | Critical                            | 3.00                                                | 3.30                                                | 3.60                                                | 4.00                                                |
| 4.      | Over-exploited                      | 4.00                                                | 4.50                                                | 5.00                                                | 6.00                                                |

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