The Central Ground Water Authority was constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 following directions of the Supreme Court in the 1990s, to regulate and control the development and management of groundwater. It issues No Objection Certificates for groundwater extraction by industries, infrastructure and mining projects, bulk water suppliers, and commercial and group housing users, under guidelines issued in September 2020 and amended since. It sets conditions on metering, recharge, water audits and reporting, levies groundwater abstraction charges, and takes action against illegal extraction.
The Authority's role differs by state. Where a state has enacted its own groundwater law and set up an authority, permissions are generally issued under the state law, as in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. In other states and Union territories, the CGWA's guidelines apply. This page explains how to deal with the CGWA on NOCs, renewals, compliance and enforcement, and how to check whether it is the right authority for you.
हिंदी में सारांश
केंद्रीय भूजल प्राधिकरण (CGWA) पर्यावरण संरक्षण अधिनियम की धारा 3(3) के तहत बना है और सितंबर 2020 के दिशानिर्देशों (संशोधित) के तहत उद्योग, इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर, खनन, बल्क सप्लायर, कमर्शियल और ग्रुप हाउसिंग उपयोगकर्ताओं को भूजल निकालने के लिए NOC देता है। मीटर, रिचार्ज, वॉटर ऑडिट और रिपोर्टिंग की शर्तें होती हैं और भूजल शुल्क लगता है। जिन राज्यों का अपना भूजल कानून है (जैसे उत्तर प्रदेश, हरियाणा), वहाँ राज्य प्राधिकरण अनुमति देता है।
Is this your situation?
- You need a groundwater NOC in a state where the CGWA regulates
- Your NOC application has been returned or rejected
- Your NOC is due for renewal or has expired
- Your borewell was sealed for lack of NOC
- You received a demand for environmental compensation for groundwater use
- You need dewatering permission for a construction project
- You are unsure whether the CGWA or a state authority applies
The CGWA at a glance
Constitution
Under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act.
Guidelines
September 2020 guidelines, as amended, set NOC requirements and exemptions.
Online NOCs
Applications, renewals and compliance through the online system.
Conditions
Meters, piezometers, recharge, water audits and reporting.
Charges
Groundwater abstraction charges based on quantity and area category.
State laws
Where states regulate under their own law, the state authority issues permission.
Is the CGWA your authority?
Before applying, confirm which authority regulates groundwater at your site. The CGWA's guidelines apply where the state has not enacted a groundwater law with a functioning regulator. Uttar Pradesh regulates under its Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Act, 2019, and Haryana through its Water Resources Authority under a 2020 law. Several other states have their own laws or arrangements. In Delhi and many Union territories, the arrangements should be checked against the current position.
Applying to the CGWA where a state authority has taken over, or relying on an old CGWA NOC in such a state, leaves the user without valid permission. If your site is in a state with its own law, see groundwater NOC for the state route.
Applying for and renewing an NOC
An NOC application requires details of the site, the existing and proposed wells, the quantity sought, the purpose of use, a water balance showing total demand and recycling, and, depending on the quantity and area, a hydrogeological report and impact assessment. The area's groundwater assessment category, from safe to over-exploited, affects whether extraction is permitted and on what terms. New extraction in over-exploited areas is restricted, and certain uses face additional limits.
NOCs are valid for a limited period and must be renewed before expiry, with evidence of compliance with conditions: meter readings, piezometer data, recharge structures, water audit reports and payment of abstraction charges. A renewal application without this evidence is likely to be questioned or refused. Track the expiry date and gather compliance records through the year.
Enforcement: sealing and compensation
Borewells drawing groundwater without NOC, or in breach of conditions, may be sealed by district authorities or boards acting on CGWA guidelines and NGT directions. Environmental compensation has been imposed for illegal extraction, calculated on the quantity drawn, the duration and the area category. The NGT has dealt with groundwater extraction in many cases, especially in NCR and over-exploited districts, and has directed authorities to act against illegal users.
When facing sealing or a compensation demand, gather records of any application, metering data, the actual quantity drawn, and the purpose of use. Compensation calculated on full pump capacity without metering evidence can often be reduced with proper records. See environmental compensation demand.
How to deal with the CGWA
Confirm jurisdiction
CGWA or state authority for your site.
Check the area category
Safe, semi-critical, critical or over-exploited.
Prepare the application
Water balance, reports and plans.
Apply online
With fees and documents.
Comply with conditions
Meters, recharge, audits and reporting.
Renew in time
With compliance evidence.
Dewatering and infrastructure
Construction and mining projects that pump out groundwater to keep excavations dry need permission for dewatering, with conditions on measuring the quantity, using the water, and recharging or supplying it to the local body. Infrastructure projects such as metro rail and highways with underpasses also face dewatering issues. The CGWA's guidelines address these cases, and the NGT has acted against illegal dewatering in NCR. Build dewatering into project approvals from the start.
Time and typical cost
Our fees are agreed in writing at the start, stage by stage. They are not linked to the outcome.
| Stage | Usual time | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction and category check | 2 to 5 days | Our fee |
| Application preparation | 1 to 4 weeks | Hydrogeologist's fee |
| NOC processing | Often 1 to 3 months | Application fee |
| Renewal | Before expiry | Compliance evidence |
| Compensation dispute | Weeks | Our fee |
Users and the usual position
| User | Usual position |
|---|---|
| Industries | NOC required, subject to area restrictions |
| Infrastructure and mining | NOC required, including dewatering |
| Group housing and commercial | NOC required, subject to exemptions |
| Bulk water suppliers | NOC required, with strict conditions |
| Agriculture | Generally exempt |
| Individual domestic users | Generally exempt |
Documents usually needed
Site
- Location and land documents
- Well details
Water
- Water balance and demand
- Recycling and recharge plans
- Hydrogeological report where required
Compliance
- Meter and piezometer records
- Water audit reports
- Abstraction charge receipts
Laws that apply
Constitution of the CGWA.
NOCs, exemptions, conditions and charges.
Where states regulate under their own law.
Directions on illegal extraction and compensation.
How we work
We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad). This is what you can expect:
- Jurisdiction confirmed: CGWA or state.
- Applications that hold up: water balance and reports.
- Renewals on time: with compliance evidence.
- Sealing and compensation handled: with metering records.
- Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.
Mistakes we see with CGWA matters
- Applying to the CGWA in a state with its own law
- Letting NOCs expire
- No meter readings to show actual extraction
- Dewatering without permission
- Ignoring recharge conditions
A Rajasthan industrial unit's renewal
Here's a made-up example. A unit near Bhiwadi in Rajasthan applied to renew its CGWA NOC, but had no water audit reports and incomplete meter readings.
We advised commissioning the audit and reconstructing meter data from monthly records, and filed the renewal with these documents and a revised recharge plan. The NOC was renewed with conditions on monthly reporting.
A basement dewatering case
Here's a second made-up example. A commercial project's deep basement required dewatering, and the contractor began pumping without permission. A complaint followed.
We applied for dewatering permission with flow meters and a plan to supply the water to the local body for non-potable use, and replied to the complaint with these steps. The authority allowed dewatering under conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CGWA?
The Central Ground Water Authority, constituted under Section 3(3) of the EP Act.
Does the CGWA regulate groundwater everywhere?
No, states with their own law and authority regulate under that law.
Who needs a CGWA NOC?
Industries, infrastructure, mining, bulk suppliers and many commercial and housing users.
Is agriculture exempt?
Generally yes.
How long is an NOC valid?
For a limited period; renew before expiry.
What conditions apply?
Meters, piezometers, recharge, audits and reporting.
What are abstraction charges?
Charges based on quantity drawn and area category.
Can my borewell be sealed?
Yes, for extraction without NOC or in breach of conditions.
Is dewatering regulated?
Yes, it needs permission with conditions.
Can I challenge a compensation demand?
Yes, especially if based on assumed rather than metered quantities.
Does UP use the CGWA?
UP regulates under its own 2019 Act.
Does Haryana use the CGWA?
Haryana regulates through its Water Resources Authority.
Groundwater NOC Issue?
Send us the site details and any notice. We will confirm the authority and the route.
This page gives general information about environmental law as it stood when it was last reviewed. It is not legal advice on your case and does not promise any result. Environmental rules, EPR targets, GRAP measures and board procedures change often, so check the current position for your unit or project before acting.
Need help with Dealing With the Central Ground Water Authority?
Send us the notice, the order or a few photos. We'll tell you where you stand, which authority or NGT bench deals with it and when the next step is due, in plain words.
