In pursuance of the order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, Central Ground Water Board has been constituted as Authority under sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 vide notification No. S.O. 38 (E) dated 14.1.97 and subsequent amendments for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water management and development in the country.  The Authority is required to regulate indiscriminate boring and to preserve and protect ground water.   The jurisdiction of the Authority shall be whole of India. The Authority shall function under the Administrative control of  the GOI in the Ministry of Water Resources with its Headquarters at Delhi.

As a regulatory measure, some of the important steps taken/being taken  by CGWA are given below :-

v     Regulating ground water development in 43 over exploited areas.

v     Notified 108 over-exploited for purpose of Control on sinking of tubewells which include 43 areas notified for regulation of ground water development and management and 65 areas for registration of ground water abstraction structures.

v     Issued instructions to Chief Secretaries of States to take measures to promote/ adopt recharge to ground water/ rain water harvesting in over-exploited areas.

v     Organize Mass awareness campaigns on various aspects of the ground water management, protection and regulation throughout the year.

v     The guidelines of CGWA for consideration of grant of clearances have been uploaded in the website at http://cgwb.gov.in

v     CGWA is considering to exempt industries to use small quantity of water for domestic, drinking and other related purposes in non-notified areas.

v     The projects of mining not intersecting water table do not require CGWA permission.

v     CGWA will review the status of notified areas as per the prevailing guidelines and de-notify the areas if required.

v     CGWA is in process of de-notifying the overexploited blocks  for registration of ground water abstraction structures.

v     The process of registration of drilling agencies by CGWA has been discontinued forthwith.

v     A committee constituted by CGWA will formulate the policy and guidelines in respect of industries, mines and infrastructure development projects.