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Groundwater Extraction Permission (NOC) for Industrial & Infrastructure Projects

Groundwater Extraction Permission, commonly known as a Groundwater NOC in India, is a mandatory statutory approval required before extracting or using groundwater for industrial, infrastructure, commercial, or institutional purposes.

Any project using borewells, tube wells, or groundwater as a water source must obtain prior groundwater extraction permissionfrom the applicable authority. These permissions are regulated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986to ensure sustainable groundwater use and prevent over-extraction.

Simplicomp assists industries across India in securing groundwater approvals with full regulatory compliance, technical accuracy, and authority-specific alignment.

What Is a Groundwater Extraction Permission (NOC)?

A Groundwater Extraction Permission (NOC) is an official approval issued by either a central or state groundwater authority allowing a project to abstract groundwater up to a specified quantity and under defined conditions.

This permission :-

Regulates borewell and tube well usage

Prescribes extraction limits and recharge obligations

Forms a prerequisite for several environmental approvals

Is a key element of industrial water management compliance

Extraction of groundwater without a valid NOC is treated as a statutory violation and may result in penalties, closure directions, or refusal of future approvals.

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Groundwater extraction permissions are governed by :-

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Directions and guidelines issued by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)

State groundwater regulations issued by respective water authorities

The applicable authority depends on project location, groundwater jurisdiction, and state-specific delegation of powers.

Which Authority Grants Groundwater Permission?

Only one authority grants groundwater permission for a project — either the central authority or the respective state authority. Dual approvals are not permitted.

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)

The CGWA NOC for industries applies to projects located in areas governed under central groundwater regulations.

CGWA permissions are typically required for :-

Manufacturing and processing units
Infrastructure and construction projects
Commercial establishments such as hotels, malls, and hospitals
Institutions and bulk groundwater users

CGWA regulates abstraction to ensure sustainability, recharge, and long-term water security.

Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA)

Projects located in Haryana are regulated by the Haryana Water Resources Authority under the Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation, and Management) Authority Act, 2020.

HWRA permissions apply to industries, infrastructure projects, commercial establishments, and bulk water users extracting groundwater through borewells or tube wells. Approvals are issued with conditions related to abstraction limits, recharge measures, digital metering, and periodic compliance submissions.

Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department (UPGWD)

Groundwater extraction in Uttar Pradesh is regulated by the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Department. Projects are assessed based on area classification such as safe, semi-critical, critical, or over-exploited zones.

UPGWD permissions prescribe quantity limits, recharge obligations, and annual compliance reporting to ensure sustainable groundwater management.

Punjab Water Regulation Development Authority (PWRDA)

In Punjab, groundwater abstraction permissions are administered by the Punjab Water Regulation Development Authority. Industrial and infrastructure projects are required to obtain approval prior to extraction and comply with authority-specific conditions on abstraction, conservation, and reporting.

State Groundwater Authorities

In certain states, groundwater regulation is managed by state-level authorities instead of CGWA.

Who Requires a Groundwater Extraction NOC?

Groundwater permission is mandatory for :-

Industrial and manufacturing units

Infrastructure and construction projects

Commercial establishments

Educational and institutional campuses

Warehousing and logistics facilities

Projects using borewells or tube wells

In short, borewell permission for industries is required wherever groundwater is extracted for non-domestic use.

Conditions Attached to Groundwater Permissions

Groundwater NOCs are issued with conditions such as :-

Maximum permissible abstraction limits

Installation of digital water meters

Rainwater harvesting and recharge systems

Periodic reporting and monitoring

Restrictions in critical or over-exploited zones

Compliance with these conditions is mandatory throughout the validity period.

Documents Required for Groundwater Extraction Permission

Typical documentation includes :-

Proof of land ownership or lease
Detailed water requirement and water balance
Hydrogeological or groundwater availability report
Rainwater harvesting and recharge plan
Project report and site layout
Consent to Establish (CTE) or Consent to Operate (CTO), as applicable
Company registration documents
Authorisation letter or board resolution
Applicable statutory fees

Timeline & Validity of Groundwater NOC

Processing Time :-

Typically 45–90 days , depending on authority and groundwater classification

Validity:-

Usually 1–3 years
Renewal is mandatory before expiry
Quantity enhancement or expansion requires fresh approval or amendment

All monitoring is carried out through NABL-accredited laboratories and qualified experts.

How Simplicomp Supports Groundwater Extraction Permissions

Simplicomp provides end-to-end support including :-

Applicability assessment (CGWA vs State Authority)

Preparation of technical and hydrogeological documentation

Authority-specific application filing

Coordination and follow-up with groundwater authorities

Advisory on recharge and conservation compliance

Renewal and amendment support

Our focus is accurate approvals with long-term industrial water management compliance.

Questions

Have any questions?

Here are clear, regulator-aligned answers to help you understand EC requirements and expectations.

Ask Your Question

Is groundwater permission required even for one borewell?

Any non-domestic groundwater extraction requires prior approval.

Can a project apply to both CGWA and a state authority?

No. Only the authority having jurisdiction over the project location is applicable.

What happens if groundwater is extracted without a valid NOC?

Authorities may impose penalties, seal borewells, or initiate legal action.

Need Groundwater Extraction Permission for Your Project?

Speak with our groundwater compliance experts to secure your Groundwater NOC in India without regulatory risk or project delays

Request Groundwater Permission Consultation

Next Compliance Requirement : Annual Groundwater Compliance & Returns

Once groundwater permission is granted, annual reporting and compliance submissions become mandatory throughout the validity period.

View Annual Groundwater Compliance Services

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