Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (STARRED), answered on 2018-01-04
Subject: Water Conservation Fee
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, BALKA SUMAN

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *251

ANSWERED ON 04 . 01.2018

## WATER CONSERVATION F EE

| *251.                                                                                                                                                                                | SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO SHRI SUMAN BALKA                                                                                                                              |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state: (a) whether any criteria has been fixed to determine the water conservation fee; | Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state: (a) whether any criteria has been fixed to determine the water conservation fee; |
| THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION, ROAD TR ANSPORT & HIGHWAYS A ND SHIPPING                                                                  | THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION, ROAD TR ANSPORT & HIGHWAYS A ND SHIPPING                                                                  |
| (a)to (d)                                                                                                                                                                            | statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                                                                                                         |

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART S (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *251 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.01.2018 IN THE LOK SABHA REGARDING ' WATER CONSERVATION FEE' ASKED  BY  SHRI  MOHITE  PATIL  VIJAYSINH  SHANKARRAO AND SHRI SUMAN BALKA, HON'BLE MPs :

(a) & (b)  Yes ,Madam.  In the draft guidelines for ground water extraction framed by the Ground Water Authority (CGWA), it is proposed to levy a water conservation fee for issuance of 'No Objection Certificate (NOC)' for ground water abstraction.  The rates of water conservation fee have been proposed based on the quantum of ground water abstracted, category of grou nd water assessment unit  and  use  of  ground  water.    The  draft  guidelines  have  been  circulated  to  all  State uploaded  on  the  website  of  this  Ministry  and  CGWA.  The  details  of  rates  proposed  are Annexure.

(c) The draft guidelines are in tended to further streamline the current application process a lead to strengthening of States' role in ground water conservation and management. Implementation of these  guidelines  will  lead  to  sustainable  management  of  ground  water.  Also,  13  Stat /  Union Territories are already regulating ground water development through Ground Water Act or Government Orders.  Further, trainings / workshops shall be held for the capacity buildin authorized  to  issue  NOCs.  State  Level  Advisory  Co mmittees  will  have  representative  from  the respective Regional Offices of the Central Ground Water Board. (d) Other steps taken by the Central Government for conservation of ground water are avail following URLhttp://mowr.gov.in/writereaddata/GW\_Depletion.pdf .

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Annexure  referredto in  reply  to part  (a)  & (b)  ofStarred  Q.No. *251 to  be  answered  on 04.01.2018 in the Lok Sabha regarding 'Water Conservation Fee'

## Water Conservation Fee

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

## I.  Drinking & Domestic Use

Go vernment infrastructure projects, Government water supply agencies and Group Housing So private housing societies with only basic amenities will be exempted from paying Water Conservation Fee.  All ot her users covered under Infrastructure projects will be required to pay the same of Rs. 0.30 per m 3 /day (0.30 x quantum x 365) .

## II.   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                                                |

Government mining projects will be exempted from paying 'Water Conservation Fee'.

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