Lok Sabha Question No. 1388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Bhu-Neer Portal Initiative
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1388

ANSWERED ON 13.02.2025

## BHU-NEER PORTAL INITIATIVE

1388.   SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the key objectives of the Bhu-Neer Portal initiative;

(b) the specific steps taken/being taken by the Government to implement the said initiative and the expected timeline for its rollout along with the intended outcomes thereof; and

(c) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to raise awareness and ensure easy accessibility of the said Portal to the general public?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) The  'Bhu-Neer'  is  a  new  state  of  the  art  portal,  developed  by  joint  team  of  Central  Ground  Water Authority  (CGWA)  and  National  Informatics  Centre  (NIC),  which  has  been  created  with  an  objective  of providing a smooth and efficient mechanism for regulation of ground water development and management in the  country  by  providing  a  quick  and  easy  to  use  platform  for  filing  NOC  applications  for  ground  water abstraction.  As per the provisions of the Guidelines dated 24.09.2020, applications seeking NOC for ground water abstraction can be filed on the Bhu-Neer portal by different categories of users. The portal is developed with  several  advanced  yet  simple  features  so  as  to  ensure  transparency,  efficiency,  and  sustainability  in groundwater usage.

(b) The Bhu-Neer Portal has already been made live on 30th October 2024 and is available to general public for online filing and processing of fresh and renewal applications of NOC.

(c) The portal was launched by Hon'ble Minister, Jal Shakti on 19.09.2024 during the valedictory session of 8th India Water Week (IWW). The launch on IWW platform provided the portal a wide publicity as the event was extensively covered by media and also as the event was attended by representatives from various sectors, including  industrial  establishments.  A  press  release  has  also  been  made  by  the  Ministry  on  20.11.2024 exclusively on the launch of Bhu-Neer portal with a view to provide wide coverage to the subject.

In  addition,  CGWA  has  been  organizing  workshops  with  various  chambers  of  commerce  and  conducting Public Interaction Programmes (PIPs) to sensitize the general populace and especially the Project Proponents abstracting ground water, about the portal and its benefits.

Regarding  ease  of  access  and  operation,  it  is  stated  that  the  portal  is  developed  with  several  userfriendly  features to offer streamlined process flow to the project proponents like, simplified yet informative interface,  PAN  based  single  Id  system,  Online  charges  calculator,  Track  application  history  and  real  time progress updates through SMS & e-mails etc.

Further,  keeping  the  Ease  of  Doing  Business  paradigm  in  mind,  the  pages  of  the  portal  have  been designed to minimize the time and effort for filling the application and to provide all requisite information at one place.

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