Lok Sabha Question No. 3025 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Bhu-Neer Portal
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

## 3025. SHRI ARUN BHARTI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  the  "Bhu-Neer"  portal  for  issuing  groundwater  withdrawal permits in Bihar and if so, the details and key features thereof;

(b)  the  manner  in  which  the  PAN-based  single  ID  system  and  QR  code-enabled  NOCs  ensure transparency and efficiency;

(c) the details of the role of "Bhu-Neer" in addressing challenges related to groundwater management and withdrawal in Bihar;

(d)  whether  the  portal  aligns  with  the  objectives  of  sustainable  water  use  and  its  impact  on  water conservation efforts and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to expand the adoption of the portal across Bihar?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) 'Bhu-Neer', which is new state of the art portal, has been rolled out in 2024 by the Central Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA)  under  the  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti,  for  the  purpose  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  No  Objection  Certificate  (NOC) applications for ground water abstraction. Applications seeking NOC for ground water abstraction can be filed on the Bhu-Neer portal by different categories of project proponents/users situated in any of the 19 States/UTs where the ground water regulation is being done by CGWA, which includes Bihar.

The  portal  is  developed  with  several  advanced  yet  simple  features  so  as  to  ensure  transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in groundwater usage. Some of the latest and user-friendly features of BhuNeer portal include, Check eligibility feature for knowing the eligibility before applying, Online charges calculator,  Query  module for  one-to-one  interaction  with  CGWA  officials, Real time SMS and e-mail alerts on the status of application etc. In particular, the feature of PAN based Single ID system provides ease of access and integration with other modules and payment gateways and QR code enabled NOCs feature has been created for enhanced security and ease of verification.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3025

## ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025

## BHU-NEER PORTAL

(c)  &  (d) The  Bhu-Neer  portal  is  for  the  purpose  of online application  and  processing  of  NOC  for extraction of ground water by industries, infrastructure projects and mining projects as per the Guidelines dated 24.09.2020 notified by M/o Jal Shakti. The portal has been designed for effective implementation of  the  said  Guidelines  for  groundwater  regulation,  thus  playing  a  significant  role  in  addressing  the challenges  related  to  groundwater  extraction.  By  helping  in  enforcement  of  the  Guidelines  meant  for curbing indiscriminate extraction of ground water, the Bhu-Neer contributes to sustainable development and management of ground water resources in the country, including Bihar.

Further,  the  portal  also  seeks  to  make  the  projects  comply  with  the  water  conservation  measures prescribed in the Guidelines like construction of roof top rain water harvesting structures and installation of sewage treatment plants etc.

(e) The Bhu-Neer Portal was launched by Hon'ble Minister, Jal Shakti providing wide publicity. Press release  was  also  issued  by  the  Ministry  exclusively  on  the  launch  of  Bhu-Neer  portal  with  a  view  to provide country-wide news coverage to the subject, including Bihar.

In  addition,  CGWA  has  been  organizing  workshops  with  various  chambers  of  commerce  and conducting  Public  Interaction  Programmes  (PIPs)  to  spread  awareness  and  to  hasten  the  pace  of  its adoption by the Project Proponents seeking to extract ground water.

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