Context:

• In a bid to promote conservation of groundwater, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has notified a water conservation fee (WCF) that industries will need to pay on groundwater extraction starting from June.

Details:

• As per the notification, industries extracting groundwater including mining-dewatering units and those that use groundwater for packaged drinking water would also need to apply for a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the government.
• NOC process could be done through online
• Individual households that draw groundwater using a delivery pipe of a greater than 1” diameter (which indirectly implies more water withdrawal), too, would need to pay a WCF.
• And the rates would be levied depending on the location of the groundwater extraction point and the amount of water being extracted.

Exemptions:

• The agriculture sector — the largest consumer of groundwater in the country — will be exempt from the fees.
• Defence establishments and users who don’t use electricity to extract water have also been granted exemption from the requirement of obtaining NOCs and having to pay the WCF.
• The guidelines would come into force with effect from June 2019 and would apply across the country.
• Levies are regarded as water conservation fee, which will be used for groundwater recharge projects