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UTTAR PRADESH GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AND REGULATION RULES, 2020

UTTAR PRADESH GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AND REGULATION RULES, 2020

UTTAR PRADESH GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AND REGULATION RULES, 2020

PREAMBLE

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 49 of the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Act, 2019 (U.P. Act 13 of 2019) the Governor is pleased to make the following rules, namely-

CHAPTER 1 PRELIMINARY

Rule 1. Short title, extent and commencement.-

(1)     These rules may be called the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Rules, 2020.

(2)     They shall come into force with effects from the date of their publication in the Gazette.

Rule 2. Definitions.-

(1)     In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a)      "Act" means the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Act, 2019 (U.P. Act 13 of 2019);

(b)      "Challan" means receipt of depositing fee or any amount, to be deposited in the Ground Water fund, created under Section 48;

(c)      "Form" means a Form appended to these rules;

(d)      "Section" means a section of the Act, unless specified.

(2)     Words and expressions used but not defined in these rules, shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in the Act.

CHAPTER II TERMS OF OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES

Rule 3. Terms of office of non-official members.-

The terms of office of the members referred to in clauses (c), (d) and (e) of sub-Section (2) of Section 3, clauses (c), (d) and (e) of subsection (2) of Section 4, clauses (c), (d) and (e) of sub-section (2) of Section 5, clauses (c), (d) and (e) of sub-section (2) of Section 6 and clauses (16), (17) and (18) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 shall be three years.

Rule 4. Minimum qualification of non-official members.-

The minimum qualification of the members referred to in Rule 3 shall be as appended in "Appendix A" to these rules.

Rule 5. Meeting of the appropriate Authority.-

The meetings of the appropriate authorities shall be at such time as may be directed by the Chairperson of an Authority, provided that the period from two consecutive meetings shall not exceed,-

(a)      thirty days, in the case of Gram Panchayat Ground Water Sub-Committee, Block Panchayat Ground Water Management Committee, Municipal Water Management Committee, District Ground Water Management Council.

(b)      ninety days, in the case of State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

HAPTER III REGISTRATION OF WELLS IN NOTIFIED AND NON-NOTIFIED AREAS

Rule 6. Procedure for application for registration of well.-

(1)     Procedure, time-limits, format, fee and other provisions for the grant of registration of users in Notified and Non-notified areas.-Any existing Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user, who has sunk a well for extracting or using ground water in notified area or non-notified area before the date of coming into force of the Act, or any future Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user in Non-notified area shall make, in Form 1(A), an application referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 10 or sub-section (1) of Section 11 of Act, within a period of ninety days from the date of coming into force of the Act, to the District Ground Water Management Council;

(2)     Any existing Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user, who has sunk a well for extracting or using ground water in notified area or non-notified area before the date of coming into force of the Act, and have valid No Objection Certificate issued by either. Central Ground Water Authority or by Ground Water Department, Uttar Pradesh for extracting or using ground water, shall make, in Form 1(B), an application referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 10 or sub-section (1) of Section 11 of Act, within a period of ninety days from the date of coming into force of the Act, to the District Ground Water Management Council;

(3)     Every existing users of ground water, other than those mentioned in sub-clause (1) of Rule 6, including domestic and agriculture users of ground water, who have sunk well or boring in his or her premises or agricultural land holdings, shall make, in Form 1(C), an application referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 10 or sub-section (2) of Section 11 of Act, within a period of six months from the date of coming into force of these rules, to the Block Panchayat Ground Water Management Committee or Municipal Water Management Committee, as the case may be;

(4)     Every future users of ground water, other than those mentioned in sub-clause (1) of Rule 6, including domestic and agriculture users of ground water, who desires to sink well or boring in his or her premises or agricultural land holdings, shall make, in Form 1(D), an application referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 10 or sub-section (2) of Section 11 of Act to the Block Panchayat Ground Water Management Committee for Municipal Water Management Committee, as the case may be, prior to sinking of such well:

Provided that a user who has sunk more than one well for extracting or using ground water in the area shall be required to submit separate application Form for each well.

(5)     Form 1 shall be downloaded free of cost from the online web portal www.upgwdonline.in.

(6)     Improper filling up of Form, and failure to annex all necessary documents specified in, Form 1 shall make the application liable to be rejected.

(7)     All applications as mentioned in above sub-clauses shall be submitted online at web portal www.upgwdonline.in.

Rule 7. Procedure of modification or alteration in registered well.-

(1)     If any registered Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user of ground water in notified area, having certificate of registration wants to carry out any modification or alteration in registered well, he or she or a group of persons or an agency (as the case may be) shall obtain clearance for the same from State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority by submitting Form 2(A) to respective District Ground Water Management Council. For this, concerning user shall pay fee as prescribed in sub-rule (1) of Rule 10.

(2)     If any registered Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user of ground water wants to carry out any modification or alteration in registered well in non-notified area, he or she or a group of persons or agency (as the case may be) shall obtain clearance for the same from District Ground Water Management Council by submitting Form 2(B) to respective District Ground Water Management Council. For this, concerning user shall pay fee as prescribed in sub-rule (1) of Rule 10.

Rule 8. Disposal of application for certificate of registration by District Ground Water Management Council or Municipal Water Management Committee or Block Panchayat Ground Water Management Committee.-

(1)     On receipt of the application under sub-rule (1) of Rule 6, if the District Ground Water Management Council considers that the application is for issuance of a certificate of registration under sub section (1) of Section 10 or sub-section (1) of Section 11 of the Act, it shall, after being satisfied in its meeting, approve the case and grant certificate of registration in Form 3(A) to the user and if the concerned District Level Authority is not satisfied with the case, it shall refuse to grant certificate of registration after giving substantial reason and shall intimate accordingly to the user in Form 4(A).

(2)     On receipt of the application under sub-rule (2) of Rule 6, existing Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user, who submits a copy of valid No Objection Certificate issued by either Central Ground Water Authority or by Ground Water Department, shall automatically be registered. Such users shall get electronically generated certificate of registration in Form 3(B), within 15 days of online submission of proper application.

(3)     On receipt of the application under sub-rule (3) and sub-rule (4) of Rule 6, Agricultural and Domestic users of ground water shall automatically be registered. Such users shall get electronically generated certificate of registration in Form 3(C), within 15 days of online submission of proper application.

(4)     Users, whose application for grant of registration have been rejected under sub clause (1), may apply to State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority through Secretary of the Authority, for disposal of application. Decision of State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority in such cases shall be final.

(5)     Any decision taken by the concerned District Ground Water Management Council or Municipal Water Management Committee or Block Panchayat Ground Water Management Committee, under this rule regarding grant or refusal of certificate or registration shall be intimated to the user electronically, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of such application.

(6)     Users may also receive a duly signed copy of registration certificate from office of the District Ground Water Management Council or Municipal Water Management Committee or Block Panchayat Ground Water Management Committee, as the case may be.

Rule 9. Registers for certificate of registration.-

(1)     For every registration certificate issued in Form 3(A) or 3(B), an e-register shall be maintained at online web-portal www.upgwdonline.in.

(2)     Each District Ground Water Management Council shall also maintain a separate register of duly signed copies of registration certificate issued, in Form 3(A) and 3(B).

(3)     Each Municipal Water Management Committee shall also maintain a separate register of duly signed copies of registration certificate issued in Form 3(C).

(4)     Each Block Panchayat Ground Water Management Committee shall also maintain a separate register of duly signed copies of registration certificate issued in Form 3(C).

Rule 10. Application Fee.-

(1)     A Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user shall deposit such amount of fee as decided by State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority for filing application for registration of well as stated in sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2) of Rule 6. State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority may periodically review the amount of fee for different category of users of ground water.

(2)     There shall be no fee for filing application under sub-rule (3) and sub-rule (4) of Rule 6.

(3)     The application fee referred to in sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2) shall be paid online and shall be deposited in Ground Water fund, created by State Government.

Rule 11. Process for registration of drilling agencies.-

(1)     Any person including firm, agency or company, who desires to perform drilling work for ground water extraction shall make, in Form 5(A), an application referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the Act, to the District Ground Water Management Council.

(2)     Any person including firm, agency or company, who is engaged in drilling work for ground water extraction prior to commencement of Act, shall make, in Form 5(B), an application referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 17 of the Act, within a period of ninety days from the date of coming into force of the Act, to the District Ground Water Management Council.

(3)     On receipt of the application under sub-rule (1) of Rule 11, if the District Ground Water Management Council considers that the application is for issuance of a certificate of registration under sub section (1) of Section 17, it shall, after being satisfied in its meeting, approve the case and grant certificate of registration in Form 6(A) to such drilling agency, and if the concerned District Level Authority is not satisfied with the case, it shall refuse to grant certificate of registration and shall intimate accordingly to such person in Form 7(A).

(4)     On receipt of the application under sub-rule (2) (sic of) Rule 11, the District Ground Water Management Council shall issue certificate of registration in Form 6(B) to such drilling agency within one month of receiving the application.

(5)     If any person including firm, agency or company, who desires to perform drilling work in more than one district, he or she or as the case may be shall be required to submit separate application Form for each district.

(6)     If any person including firm, agency or company, who has already obtained registration certificate for drilling work in one district and also wants to register in another district he or she shall make, in Form 5(A) an application. He or she shall also have to upload a copy already obtained registration certificate with the form.

(7)     On receipt of the application under sub-rule (6) (sic of) Rule 11, the District Ground Water Management Council shall issue certificate of registration in Form 6(B) to such drilling agency within seven days of receiving the application.

(8)     District Ground Water Management Council shall also ensure that drilling agency registered under sub-rule (3), sub-rule (4) and sub-rule (7) shall not execute drilling work in notified area or ground water quality sensitive areas.

(9)     Registered drilling agencies shall also online provide details of drilling work executed in every three months.

(10)   Any decision taken by the concerned District Ground Water Management Council, under this rule regarding grant or refusal of certificate or registration shall be intimated to the user electronically, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of such application.

(11)   Users may also receive a duly signed copy of registration from office of the District Ground Water Management Council.

(12)   Separate registers for issuance of registration certificate to drilling agencies shall be maintained by District Ground Water Management Council.

Rule 12. Application Fee.-

(1)     Any applicant under sub-rule (1), sub-rule (2) or sub-rule (6) of Rule 11 shall deposit such amount of fee as decided by State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

(2)     The application fee referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be paid online and shall be deposited in Ground Water Fund, created by State Government.

CHAPTER IV GRANT OF AUTHORISATION /NO-OBJECTION

Rule 13. Procedure, time-limits, format, fee and other provisions, terms and conditions for the grant of Authorisation /No-objection certificate for users in non-notified areas.-

(1)     Any future or existing user, under sub-clause (1) of Rule 6, who does not have No-Objection Certificate issued by Central Ground Water Authority or by Ground Water Department, Uttar Pradesh shall make, in Form 8(A), an application to the District Ground Water Management Council for issuance of grant of Authorisation /No-objection certificate.

(2)     Form 8(A) shall be downloaded free of cost from the online web portal www.upgwdonline.in.

(3)     Such forms as are not duly filled or not enclosed with documents specified in Form 8(A) shall be liable to be rejected.

Rule 14. Procedure for renewal of No-objection Certificate.-

(1)     Any existing Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user, who has sunk a well for extracting or using ground water in notified or non-notified area, and have valid No-Objection Certificate issued by the Central Ground Water Authority or the Ground Water Department before the date of commencement of the Act, and desires to continue extraction of ground water, shall make an application in Form 8(B).

(2)     A user, having pre-existing right of ground water, shall apply for renewal of No-objection after one year from the date of commencement of the Act or on the expiry of the validity of existing No-objection Certificate, whichever is earlier.

Rule 15. Disposal of application for grant of Authorisation/No-objection certificate by District Ground Water Management Council.-

(1)     On receipt of the application under Rule 13, if, the District Ground Water Management Council considers that the application is for issuance of grant of Authorisation/No-objection certificate under Section 14, it may grant Authorisation/No-objection certificate in Form 8(C) to the user and if the concerned District Ground Water Management Council is not satisfied with the case, it shall refuse to issue certificate of grant of Authorisation/No-objection and shall intimate accordingly to the user in Form 8(D).

(2)     Application as received above shall be disposed by District Council in accordance to the provisions of rules within thirty days of receiving of application, otherwise it shall deemed to be issued. In case it is found that the NOC issued as above in (sic is) not in accordance to the provisions of Rule/Act, State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall take appropriate action by fixing the responsibility of the person found guilty.

(3)     Authorisation/No-objection Certificate, issued under sub-rule (1) shall be valid for a period of five years. In case of violation of any of the condition of the No-objection Certificate or change in ground water status of the area, State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall have the right to either cancel the NOC or impose restrictions as the Authority find appropriate.

(4)     On receipt of the application under Rule 14, District Ground Water Management Council shall forward the application to Ground Water Department for technical comments. On recommendation of Ground Water Department, District Ground Water Management Council, may renew Authorisation/No-objection Certificate in Form 8(E) for such period as may be recommended by Ground Water Department.

(5)     Users, whose application for grant of Authorisation/No-objection have been rejected under sub-rule (1), may prefer an appeal to State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority within thirty days from the date of receiving of the order.

(6)     Any decision taken by the concerned District Ground Water Management Council, under this rule regarding grant or refusal of certificate of Authorisation/No-objection Certificate shall be intimated to the user by registered post with due acknowledgement and electronically, within a period of thirty days from the date of the receipt of such application:

Provided that the user may receive the copy of the intimation by hand from the office of the concerned District Ground Water Management Council.

Rule 16. Registers for certificate of Authorisation/No-objection Certificate.-

Every District Ground Water Management Council shall maintain separate register for issuing certificate of Authorisation/No-objection Certificate.

Rule 17. Application Fee for grant of Authorisation/No-objection Certificate and Fee for ground water extraction/drawl.-

(1)     A Commercial or Industrial or Infrastructural or bulk user shall deposit such amount of fee as may be decided by the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority for filing application for obtaining certificate of Authorisation/No-objection Certificate for sinking a new well referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 13. The State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority may review the amount of fee for different category of users of ground water time to time.

(2)     After grant of authorisation on an application referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 13, an annual amount of fee for ground water extraction, as provided under Section 16 of the Act shall be deposited annually by such user. Amount of fee for ground water extraction shall be determined by the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority. The State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority may review the amount of fee of extraction for different category of users of ground water, time to time.

(3)     The fee referred to in sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2) shall be paid in such manner as prescribed in Form 8(A) and shall be deposited in Ground Water Fund.

CHAPTER V IDENTIFICATION AND DEMARCATION OF NOTIFIED AREAS

Rule 18. Procedure for Demarcation of Notified Areas and Issuance of Notification for the purpose of Act.-

Identification and demarcation of areas to be declared as Notified Areas, in the manner-

(1)     Rural Areas: Under the provisions of the Act, for the purpose of demarcation of the Notified Areas, the over exploited and critical blocks shall be considered. The Ground Water Department, therefore, shall identify and prepare the district wise list of blocks categorised as over-exploited and critical blocks, based on the latest ground water resource assessment report.

(2)     Urban Areas: In the Urban sector, as provided in the Act, the stressed areas where ground water levels have depleted to critical/alarming levels shall be considered for the purpose of declaring such areas as notified areas. The Ground Water Department shall identify and delineate those urban areas as stressed, where ground water levels have recorded a significant decline of more than 20 cm per year during the last five years.

(3)     The Ground Water Department shall submit the list of overexploited and critical blocks and the stressed urban areas to the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority for notifying the said areas, as provided in the Act.

Rule 19. Issuance of Notification.-

(1)     The State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall have necessary consultations on the inputs provided by the Ground Water Department related to overexploited and critical blocks categorised as per the latest Ground Water Resource Assessment and the Stressed Urban areas identified by the Department on the basis of analysis of ground water depletion.

(2)     The Authority, thereafter, shall advice the State Government to declare by Notification such areas as Notified Areas for the purpose of implementation of different provisions of the Act. On the basis of recommendation of Ground Water Department, the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall also advice State Government to discontinue or redesign such Government schemes which are directly dependent on ground water extraction.

(3)     The State Government shall duly consider the recommendation and advice of the State Authority for declaration of such areas as Notified Areas by Notification, in the Gazette.

(4)     The notification referred to in sub-rule (3) shall be uploaded on the websites of all concerned departments and shall also be published in two widely circulated newspapers in the area.

CHAPTER VI FIXING LIMIT OF ABSTRACTION OF GROUND WATER FOR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, INFRASTRUCTURAL OR BULK USERS

Rule 20. Process for fixing of limit for abstraction of Ground Water for Commercial Industrial, Infrastructural or Bulk users of ground water.-

(1)     For fixing ground water abstraction limit for all the existing Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructural or Bulk users of ground water, the Ground Water Department, in consultation with stake holders, shall submit a proposal to the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority within six month from the date of commencement of these rules.

(2)     On the basis of proposal submitted by Ground Water Department, State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall fix ground water abstraction limits for all the Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructural or Bulk users of ground water.

(3)     Ground water abstraction limits fixed under sub-rule (2) shall be written in the registration or authorisation certificate/No-objection certificate for wells of existing Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructural or Bulk users of ground water in Notified as well as Non-notified areas and for all the new Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructural or Bulk users of ground water in Non-notified areas, as the case may be, for the purpose of Section 15.

CHAPTER VII DEMARCATION AND DECLARATION OF GROUND WATER QUALITY SENSITIVE ZONES

Rule 21. Process for Demarcation and Declaration of Ground Water Quality Sensitive Zones.-

Demarcation of Ground Water Quality Sensitive Zone-

(1)     To collect, evaluate and analyse ground water quality data and related information for the purpose of generating an overview of the problem, the Ground Water Department shall hold technical consultations with the expert bodies such as Central Ground Water Board, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, Central and State Pollution Control Boards, Indian Institute of Toxicological Research, National Institute of Hydrology, IITs and also those Institutions, which have conducted area specific ground water quality studies, for providing the existing data, reports and information on ground water quality for both rural and urban segments of Uttar Pradesh.

(2)     Based on the evaluation, analysis and mapping of such available data, the Ground Water Department shall proceed to generate and develop a comprehensive quality data base for the entire State. Subsequently, the department shall identify those areas which are found affected with poor ground water quality along with risk of pollution hazards on drinking and irrigation water supplies. Such areas shall be demarcated and mapped as Ground Water Quality Sensitive Zones.

(3)     The department shall prepare a detailed district wise list of such Ground Water Quality Sensitive Zones with their GPS locations.

(4)     The complete information on ground water quality for the entire state shall be submitted to the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority for onward action, with the objective to ensure protection of ground water quality in such delineated zones through appropriate measures for prevention and control of pollution and finding safe quality areas for potable water supplies.

(5)     State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall take immediate action and will issue directions to concerned departments to change or redesign their existing policies or schemes to ensure protection of ground water quality in such delineated zones. All concerned departments shall have to change or redesign their existing policies or schemes in such delineated zones.

(6)     After issuance of direction in sub-rule (5), if District Ground Water Management Council finds that any particular scheme of any department is responsible for pollution of ground water in that district, the Council in such cases shall immediately take action in consonance with the provision of the Act and also shall submit a case to State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

Rule 22. Issuance of Notification of Ground Water Quality Sensitive Zone.-

(1)     The State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall, after having necessary technical consultations on the information provided by the Ground Water Department regarding ground water quality of the State, recommend and advice the State Government to declare by Notification such areas as Ground Water Quality Sensitive Zones for the purpose of the Act.

(2)     The State Government shall duly consider the advice and recommendation of the State Authority for declaration of Ground Water Quality Sensitive Zones in the State and issue a Notification, both in Hindi as well as English language under the sub-section (1) of the Section 24. The notification shall also contain the directions of the State Government for the notified area.

(3)     The Notification shall be published in the Gazette and subsequently as Public Notice in at least three daily regional newspapers through the Information Directorate, U.P. Apart from the publication in the newspapers, the Notification shall also be uploaded on the websites of all concerned departments for wide circulation.

CHAPTER VIII PROCESS FOR FIXING STANDARDS OF TREATED WASTE WATER AND PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF TREATMENT PLANT

Rule 23. Process for fixing standards of treated waste water.-

(1)     On the direction of the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority, the Ground Water Department, in consultation with Central Ground Water Board, Central and State Pollution Control Boards, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam shall submit a proposal to it for approval of standards for treated waste within such time as may be directed by the said Authority.

(2)     On the basis of proposal submitted by Ground Water Department, State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall approve standards for treated waste water.

(3)     State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall issue direction to each District Ground Water Management Council for compliance of approved standard while granting No-objection to user of ground water.

Rule 24. Procedure for installation of treatment plant.-

(1)     The State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall ensure through District Ground Water Management Councils that all Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructural or Bulk user of ground water that pollute ground water or surface water, will install treatment plants within a period of one year from the date of commencement of these rules.

(2)     Each District Ground Water Management Council shall conduct physical verification of all Industries in the district thereof, within two months from the date of commencement of these rules.

(3)     On the basis of report of physical verification, the District Ground Water Management Council shall prepare a list of those industries, which have not constructed appropriate treatment plant.

(4)     List of each district as prepared under sub-rule (3) shall be submitted to the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

(5)     The State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall direct the industries referred to in sub-rule (4) that the industries which have not installed appropriate treatment plants shall install the said plant within a period of six months from the date (sic of) issuance of the direction.

(6)     After end of six month period of direction under sub-rule (5), each District Ground Water Management Council shall again conduct physical verification of all Industries in concerning districts in two months period. On the basis of report of physical verification, District Ground Water Management Council shall again prepare a list of those industries, which have not complied to the direction issued by State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority under sub-rule (5).

(7)     List of each district as prepared under sub-rule (6) shall again be submitted to State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

(8)     State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall take action against such user of ground water, who still fails to set up treatment plant within the said period, by:

(i)       issue order for construction of necessary treatment plant at such user's cost by the agency identified by the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority;

(ii)      direct District Ground Water Management Council of concerning district to issue order for start of prosecution under the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 39 of the Act.

Rule 25. Procedure for restrictions for discharging untreated effluent into ground water or surface water.-

(1)     State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall monitor through Appropriate Authorities that,-

(a)      no Government department/undertaking/Corporation, etc. discharge untreated effluent into ground water or surface water.

(b)      no untreated nala or sewer, etc. are directly discharged into rivers/ponds/lakes or any ground water or surface water.

(2)     Each District Ground Water Management Council shall conduct physical verification for process of effluent discharge adopted by such Government bodies as provided under sub-rule (1), within two months from the date of commencement of these rules.

(3)     On the basis of report of physical verification, District Ground Water Management Council shall prepare a list of the Government bodies referred to in sub-rule (1), which have not adopted appropriate process for treating effluent and are directly discharging untreated effluent into ground water or surface water.

(4)     List of each district as prepared under sub-rule (3) shall be submitted to State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

(5)     The State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall issue such instructions to Government bodies referred to in sub-rule (4), so as to ensure:

(a)      the construction of appropriate treatment plants within one year from the date of issuance of the said instruction, or

(b)      to make functional the existing treatment plants within six months from the date of issuance of the said instruction.

(6)     At the end of period specified under sub-rule (5), each District Ground Water Management Council shall again conduct physical verification of those Government departments/undertakings/Corporations/bodies, etc. which have not yet adopted appropriate process for treating effluent and are still directly discharging untreated effluent into ground water or surface water, within two months.

(7)     List of those Government bodies, who have not complied to the advisory issued by State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority under sub-rule (6) shall be submitted to State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority for action.

CHAPTER IX RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Rule 26. Process of imposing provisions for rain water harvesting.-

(1)     Appropriate Authorities shall ensure that Rain Water Harvesting Structures have been properly constructed by all users having plot area of 300 square meters or more. Installation of rain water harvesting structures shall be made compulsory for different users in phases, described hereunder:

Provided that-

Installation of Rain Water Harvesting Structures shall be compulsory for every such user, who have submersible pump or any similar ground water extracting device for extraction of ground water in his or her premises.

(2)     In first phase, every Government Department/Semi-Government Department/Authorities/Aided Institutions/Public Sector Undertaking (either fully or partially funded by Government), Private Institutions or Organisations, having plot area of 300 square meters or more, or who are extracting ground water through submersible pumps or similar devices, shall also ensure that Rain Water Harvesting Structures have been properly constructed in their premises within one year of date of commencement of Act.

(3)     In second phase (after one year of first phase), every user other than those mentioned in sub-rule (2), having plot area of 300 square meters or more, or who are extracting ground water through submersible pumps or similar devices, shall also ensure that Rain Water Harvesting Structures have been properly constructed in their premises, within one year of end of first phase.

(4)     After installation of Rain Water Harvesting Structures, every user shall inform online on web portal www.upgwdonline.in.

(5)     If such user under sub-rule (2) and sub-rule (3), fails to do so, he or she or concerning body shall be punished in such manner and with such punishment as may be determined by the State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

(6)     Besides punishment referred to in sub-rule (5), submersible pump or any other ground water extracting device shall immediately be disconnected, sealed and seized by the Municipal Water Management Committee.

(7)     Area specific design of Rain Water Harvesting Structures and quantum of recharge shall be decided by State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority. Such designs shall also be made available online.

(8)     Ground Water Department shall also circulate list of competent technical persons, who shall provide necessary technical assistance for installation of appropriate Rain Water Harvesting Structures.

(9)     Appropriate Authorities shall organise training programs for demonstrating rain water harvesting techniques. Appropriate Authorities shall also invite different non-government organisations to participate in such training programs.

(10)   Appropriate Authorities shall also conduct awareness campaign to sensitise different users for rain water harvesting.

(11)   State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall also ensure that all concerning Institutions like 'All India Council of Technical Institution', 'Medical Council of India', University Grants Commission, or similar bodies shall include installation of appropriate rain water harvesting structure into their building norms while issuing No-Objection Certificate.

(12)   District Ground Water Management Council shall also issue direction to concerning implementing department to rejuvenate the defunct wells for water harvesting work. Appropriate Authorities shall also issue direction to concerning implementing department to take appropriate actions for water harvesting, viz., reuse the surplus drawl water of hand pumps, etc. in urban and rural areas.

CHAPTER X COMPOUNDING OF OFFENCES

Rule 27. Process of compounding of offence.-

The application for compounding of an offence shall be made in the form appended as Appendix (B) to these rules.

CHAPTER XI GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL

Rule 28. Process of Grievance Redressal.-

(1)     Any aggrieved person may submit his or her grievance with sufficient justification online at web portal www.upgwdonline.in on issues referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 43 of the Act.

(2)     The District Ground Water Grievance Redressal Officer may if require issue notice to the alleged user to submit his or her explanation within a period of thirty days from the receipt of grievance application.

(3)     The alleged person shall submit his or her explanation to District Ground Water Grievance Redressal Officer, within a period of thirty days of receiving notice.

(4)     District Ground Water Grievance Redressal Officer shall decide the grievance and communicate his or her decision to the aggrieved person within thirty days of receiving of explanation of alleged user.

The aggrieved person may prefer an appeal against the decision of the District Ground Water Grievance Redressal Officer to the State Ground Water Management and Regulation Authority within thirty days from the date of receipt of the decision of the District Ground Water Grievance Redressal Officer.

CHAPTER XII MISCELLANEOUS

Rule 29. Other Provisions.-

(1)     District Ground Water Management Council shall identity such existing Government schemes which either encourage excessive ground water drawl or have adverse impact on water quality of that area.

(2)     District Ground Water Management Council shall submit proposal for revisiting such schemes to State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority.

(3)     State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority shall take immediate action and will issue directions to concerned departments to change or redesign their existing policies or schemes. All concerned departments shall have to change or redesign their existing policies or schemes in such delineated zones.

Rule 30.

Anything, which has not been provided in these rules shall be put before State Ground Water Management and Regulatory Authority. Decisions, in such cases shall be taken in consonance with the provisions of Act, and communicated accordingly.

[Ed.: For Forms see SCC OnLine]