Groundwater extraction high in NCR housing clusters, norms tightened: Govt

Groundwater extraction high in NCR housing clusters, norms tightened: Govt

New Delhi, Groundwater extraction for domestic purposes, including use in high-rise apartments, accounts for a significant share of total withdrawal in Delhi and adjoining NCR districts, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Groundwater extraction high in NCR housing clusters, norms tightened: Govt

Replying to a question, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said that as per data available with the Central Ground Water Authority , of the total groundwater extraction, 71.88 per cent in Delhi was for domestic purposes.

The figure was 15.62 per cent in Ghaziabad, 3.21 per cent in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 18.6 per cent in Faridabad, 11.81 per cent in Gurugram and 13.24 per cent in Sonepat.

He said the figures represent total groundwater extraction for domestic purposes, including high-rise apartments.

The minister said the CGWA is involved in regulation of groundwater extraction at the central level, while 17 states and Union territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, have their own regulatory mechanisms.

He said CGWA issues no objection certificates for groundwater extraction in 19 states and UTs for various purposes in accordance with its guidelines dated September 24, 2020.

"As per the guidelines, groundwater extraction charges are levied on various projects, including industries and residential apartments/group housing societies, as per prescribed quantum-linked slabs, subject to compliance of stipulated conditions," the minister said.

Choudhary said the authority has also been taking stringent measures, including imposition of heavy penalties and environmental compensation charges for illegal extraction of groundwater, and even resorting to sealing of borewells in appropriate cases.

The minister said the CGWA guidelines stipulate that NOC for residential apartments and group housing societies shall be granted only in cases where the local government water supply agency is unable to supply the requisite amount of water in the area.

He added that installation of digital water flow metres in all wells extracting groundwater is mandatory for all residential apartments and group housing societies.

The minister further said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has formulated the Model Building Bye Laws , 2016 for states and UTs, with adequate focus on rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.

"As per MBBL, all buildings having a plot size of 100 square metres or more shall mandatorily include complete proposals of rainwater harvesting and, as informed by the Delhi Jal Board, the same is being followed in Delhi," the minister said.

The minister said 73.25 per cent of wells monitored across the country recorded a rise in groundwater levels in the 2025 post-monsoon period compared to the decadal mean between 2015-2024.

The annual assessment of dynamic groundwater resources, being conducted since 2022 by the Central Ground Water Board in coordination with the state governments, shows that total groundwater recharge has increased from 432 billion cubic metres in 2017 to 448.52 BCM in 2025.

The ministry said despite favourable conditions in the country as a whole, some pockets may be experiencing seasonal ground water stress due to various factors like high population density, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, dependence on water intensive crops, inefficient irrigation practices and climate change.

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