Industries rampantly flout new groundwater rules 10 months after notification

Several industries in the country are extracting groundwater without clearance from the Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA), despite a 10-month-old order mandating the same, according to an analysis by Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment. 

Groundwater is the most dependable, inexpensive source of water for most Indian industries. Sectors across the country end up extracting water beyond the permissible limits mentioned in the no-objection certificates for borewells. 

CGWA, therefore, issued orders to manage water extraction and monitor the scanty groundwater assets in the country.

On September 24, 2020, CGWA directed industries in 22 states and two Union territories to submit a water audit report to obtain a ‘no-objection certificate’ for drawing out groundwater for their projects.

Industries such as dairy, sugar, beverages and distilleries that are illegally extracting groundwater are yet to submit their water audit documents to CGWA for clearance. 

It is mandatory for industries to upload data on groundwater level every month on the CGWA web portal to record the volume consumed and recharged, said a water auditor for Confederation of Indian Industry. “Many industries, however, hold back this information.”

He added:

Industries hide water consumption data to avoid paying groundwater restoration fees. It will be a big challenge to reduce groundwater usage by at least 20 per cent over the next three years, even for the efficient industries.

Capacity gap is a major factor behind this rampant non-compliance, according to experts. India needs a larger network of water auditing agencies to cover all the industries and their projects. 

“Industries should ensure that a uniform format is followed by all plants across states for reporting specific water consumption and other water-related data,” said the water audit expert. 

Periodic calibration of water flow meters and submission of calibration report to regulatory agency must be ensured, he added.