Lok Sabha Question No. 1745 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-30
Subject: Ground Water Extraction by Soft Drink Companies
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: MAHEISH GIRRI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1745

## ANSWERED ON 30.7.2015

**Ground Water Extraction by Soft Drink Companies**

1745. 	SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI

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

(a) whether the ground water used by companies including soft drink companies for commercial purpose is chargeable and if so, the details thereof along with the charges levied by each State;

(b) whether soft drink companies get special rates and if so, the details thereof and reasons for the same;

(c) the quantum of ground water used by soft drink companies during the last three years, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government has a mechanism to monitor and check excessive use of ground water by these companies and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether such companies have been found violating the norms of ground water extraction and if so, the details thereof and the action the Government has taken against the violators of norms?

## 

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION	    (PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) & (b)  Industries are covered under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, where water cess is charged by the State Governments as per rate given in Schedule-II of the Act.  The details are given at **Annexure - I** .  Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) does not charge for ground water usage by companies including soft drink companies.

(c) & (d)  During the last three years, CGWA has accorded ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ for withdrawal of ground water to soft drink companies to the tune of 9,68,193 cubic meter per year during 2012-13; 14,82,600 cubic meter per year during 2013-14; 3,37,500 cubic meter per year during 2014-15.  State-wise details and quantum of water allowed for extraction during last three years is given in **Annexure-II.**

CGWA has fixed norms for withdrawal of ground water by industries using ground water as raw material/water intensive industries like packaged drinking water, mineral water, soft drink manufacturing industries etc. The existing norms fixed by CGWA for such industries for extraction of ground water are at Annexure-III.

Under Section 5 of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Deputy Commissioners/ District Collectors concerned have been authorized to take necessary action in case of violations of directives of CGWA in the notified areas. Besides, State Ground Water Authorities (SGWAs) have also been constituted in some States, which also accord NOC for ground water extraction related activities.  Details of NOCs accorded by SGWAs are not maintained centrally.

(e)   Three complaints have been received against M/s Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages for their units located at Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh in the year 2013-14 & 2014-15. The complaints were forwarded to the concerned State Government for investigation and action for violations.

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**ANNEXURE - I**

Annexure referred in reply to **Lok Sabha** Unstarred Question No. **1745** to be answered on 30.07.2015 regarding **“Ground Water Extraction by Soft Drink Companies”**

**Cess as per Schedule-II of ‘Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977’**

|   **Purpose for which water is consumed** |                                                                                                                                                             | **Maximum Rate under sub-section (2) of Section 3**   | **Maximum Rate under sub-section (2A) of Section 3**   |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|                                        1. | Industrial cooling, spraying in mine pits or boiler feeds                                                                                                   | Five paise per kilolitre                              | Ten paise per kilolitre                                |
|                                        2. | Domestic purpose                                                                                                                                            | Two paise per kilolitre                               | Three paise per kilolitre                              |
|                                        3. | Processing whereby water gets polluted and the pollutants are: –  1. easily bio-degradable; or 2. toxic; or 3. both toxic and not easily bio-degradable     | Fifteen paise per kilolitre                           | Thirty paise per kilolitre                             |
|                                        4. | Processing whereby water gets polluted and the pollutants are: –  1. not easily bio-degradable; or 2. toxic; or 3. both toxic and not easily bio-degradable | Fifteen paise per kilolitre                           | Thirty paise per kilolitre                             |

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**ANNEXURE - II**

Annexure referred in reply to **Lok Sabha** Unstarred Question No. **1745** to be answered on 30.07.2015 regarding **“Ground Water Extraction by Soft Drink Companies”**

**State-wise Details of Quantum of Ground Water Withdrawal as per NOC Issued During Last Three Years**

| **S.No.**   | **State**      | **2012-13**             |                                                             | **2013-14**             |                                                             | **2014-15**             |                                                             |
|-------------|----------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|             |                | **No. of NOC accorded** | **Quantum of ground water withdrawal allowed (cubic m/yr)** | **No. of NOC accorded** | **Quantum of ground water withdrawal allowed (cubic m/yr)** | **No. of NOC accorded** | **Quantum of ground water withdrawal allowed (cubic m/yr)** |
| 1           | Haryana        | 2                       | 871893                                                      | -                       | -                                                           | 1                       | 64500                                                       |
| 2           | Madhya Pradesh | -                       | -                                                           | 1                       | 246100                                                      | -                       | -                                                           |
| 3           | Odisha         | -                       | **-**                                                       | **-**                   | **-**                                                       | 1                       | 273000                                                      |
| 4           | Uttar Pradesh  | 1                       | 96300                                                       | 4                       | 1236500                                                     | -                       | -                                                           |
|             | **Total**      | **3**                   | **968193**                                                  | **5**                   | **1482600**                                                 | **2**                   | **337500**                                                  |

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**ANNEXURE - III**

Annexure referred in reply to **Lok Sabha** Unstarred Question No. **1745** to be answered on 30.07.2015 regarding **“Ground Water Extraction by Soft Drink Companies”**

| **Category of Area as per Ground**  **Water Resource Assessment (2011)**   | **Ground Water Withdrawal Limit**                   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Safe                                                                       | Withdrawal limited to 200% of ground water recharge |
| Semi-critical                                                              | Withdrawal limited to 100% of ground water recharge |
| Critical                                                                   | Withdrawal limited to 50% of ground water recharge  |
| Over-exploited and Notified Areas                                          | Permission is not granted.                          |

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