The Punjab government will start levying charges for extracting groundwater from the state on all non-exempted users from February 1. The new directions, however, do not cover groundwater use for agriculture, drinking and domestic purposes.
Chandigarh,UPDATED: Jan 29, 2023 07:42 IST
The groundwater charges have been fixed to reflect the extent of groundwater stress in each block of Punjab. (Representational image)
By India Today Web Desk: The Punjab government will start levying charges for extracting groundwater from the state on all non-exempted users, including the industry, from February 1.
The state water regulation and development authority issued a notification in this regard. The new directions, however, do not cover groundwater use for agriculture, drinking and domestic purposes, said an official statement, adding that the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) has notified Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023.
The directions also exempt government water supply schemes, military and central paramilitary establishments, urban local bodies, Panchayati raj institutions, cantonment boards, improvement trusts, area development authorities and places of worship.
An exemption has also been provided for all users who extract groundwater less than 300 cubic metres per month, the statement added.
According to the new notification, all non-exempted users shall have to submit an application to the authority for seeking permission to extract groundwater and the groundwater charges will start from February 1.
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The groundwater charges have been fixed to reflect the extent of groundwater stress in each block of Punjab.
The blocks of Punjab have been categorised into three zones (green, yellow and orange) based on the extent of annual groundwater extraction compared to annual groundwater recharge for fixing the groundwater charges.
According to the notification, in the green zone, the charges will vary between Rs 4 to Rs 14 per cubic metre depending upon the volume of extraction of groundwater.
In the case of the yellow zone, the charges will vary between Rs 6 to Rs 18 per cubic metre, and in the case of the orange zone, the charges will start from Rs 8 to Rs 22 per cubic metre.
The charges are meant for different categories of the volume of underground water extraction, which include more than Rs 300 to 1,500 cubic metres per month, over Rs 1,500 to 15,000 cubic metres, more than Rs 15,000 up to 75,000 cubic metres and more than 75,000 cubic metres per month.
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Besides, a non-refundable application fee for permission to extract water will also be charged, the notification said.
The PWRDA said the main objective of the directions is to improve the water balance by promoting and ensuring the conservation of water by the users. The objective will be achieved by ensuring that all users permitted to extract groundwater shall pay volumetric groundwater extraction charges and such charges shall be utilised in part for conserving water.
(With inputs from PTI)
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