Strength of Present legal Framework for Groundwater Protection and Regulation in India

Abstract

The ‘environmental clearance (EC)’ is mandatory for establishment of new projects or activities including expansion or modernization of existing projects under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ is also mandatory for withdrawal of groundwater or surface water from the competent authority for environmental clearance. The NOC for groundwater abstraction is included in the ‘application’ to the central or state governments for issuance of the environmental clearance. The Central Ground Water Authority has issued guidelines for abstraction of groundwater (with effect from 15.11.2012) in the country. The present write-up attempts to discuss broadly the strength of the prevailing framework for implementation of the guidelines for groundwater abstraction and to infer how far it has been effective to safeguard the groundwater resources leading to the sustainable economic development.