Bengaluru: In a sweeping move to regulate groundwater use and ensure sustainability, the state govt has decided to impose charges ranging from Re 1 to Rs 35 per cubic metre on individuals, housing societies, commercial establishments, industries, and mining operators drawing groundwater across the state.The charges will apply to all types of apartment complexes, group housing societies, and even govt agencies supplying water in urban areas. Commercial and mining users will also fall under the ambit of the new regulations.In addition, the govt has made it mandatory for all residential and commercial property owners to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) before digging borewells or extracting groundwater. While the 2011 and 2012 Karnataka Groundwater Regulations allowed NOCs water extraction, they did not include charges or cover tanker suppliers.
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All apartment complexes and group housing societies drawing 25-200 cubic metres per day will now have to pay Re 1 per cubic metre, and those using above 200 cubic metres will pay Rs 2 per cubic metre. There are no charges for the usage of up to 25 cubic meters.Industries, infrastructure, and mining projects will be charged based on the groundwater categorisation of the taluk — safe, semi-critical, critical, or over-exploited. However, concessions of 50% on fees will be extended to existing projects that have fulfilled NOC conditions, including the construction of groundwater recharge structures.The govt has also extended the NOC regime and levies to bulk water suppliers and tankers. While the Centre restricts tanker usage to domestic and drinking purposes, Karnataka has allowed broader usage, citing geological constraints such as granite and schist formations that hamper groundwater recharge.“Due to geological reasons in certain regions, groundwater contains high levels of salinity. Such groundwater is unsuitable for industrial production, which could potentially hinder industrial growth. If industries shut down, it may lead to disruptions in the industry-based socio-economic system. Therefore… it is proposed to amend the guidelines to permit bulk water supply for use in drinking, domestic, industrial, commercial, mining and infrastructure development purposes,” read a note from the minor irrigation department.Tankers will now face extraction caps — 150 cubic metres per day in safe zones, 100 cubic metres in semi-critical and critical zones, and just 50 cubic metres in over-exploited taluks.The govt has also directed all apartment complexes and individual houses with borewells to install digital water flow meters. Telemetry systems are made mandatory for apartments. Violations of the new norms will attract penalties ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 2 lakh, depending on consumption levels between 200 KLD and 5,000 KLD or more.The groundwater extraction charges collected will be used for recharge and conservation initiatives, aiming to ensure long-term sustainability of the state’s vital water resources.———QuoteDue to geological reasons in certain regions, groundwater contains high levels of salinity. Such groundwater is unsuitable for industrial production, which could potentially hinder industrial growth. If industries shut down, it may lead to disruptions in the industry-based socio-economic system. Therefore… it is proposed to amend the guidelines to permit bulk water supply for use in drinking, domestic, industrial, commercial, mining and infrastructure development purposes-minor irrigation department’s noteGFXGroundwater usage charges (Per cubic metre per day)Apartments & Group HousingDaily usage volumeRateUp to 25 m³No chargesAbove 25 m³ up to 200 m³₹1200 m³ and above₹2Industries & infrastructure projectsGroundwater zoneRate rangeSafe zone₹1-5Semi-critical zone₹2-8Critical zone₹4-10Over-exploited zone₹6-20Mining projectsGroundwater zoneRate rangeSafe zone₹1-3Semi-critical zone₹2-4Critical zone₹3-6Over-exploited zone₹4-7Bulk/Tanker SuppliersGroundwater zoneFixed rateSafe category₹10Semi-critical₹20Critical₹25Over-exploited₹35 ——
