The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority has published the draft ‘Punjab Guidelines for Groundwater Extraction and Conservation which shall apply to all commercial and industrial water users in the state of Punjab.
The Draft Guidelines pertain to usage of groundwater for purposes other than agriculture, drinking and domestic use. In other words, these Draft Guidelines cover the commercial and industrial use of groundwater, including institutions, construction and infrastructure projects and contain the Charges to be levied on a volumetric basis for the extraction of groundwater for commercial and industrial use, as well as other charges pertaining to the extraction of groundwater, including application fees, processing fees, registration fees, groundwater compensation, conveyance charges, conservation credits etc.,
No person shall be permitted to extract groundwater for commercial or industrial use without obtaining permission from the Authority. Permission will be granted subject to payment of Groundwater Charges and fulfilling of specified conditions.
The Government shall design and implement appropriate Water Conservation Schemes for water conservation in important sectors such as agriculture, groundwater recharge, urban rainwater harvesting, industrial wastewater treatment and reuse, and rural wastewater management.
All Units shall be expected to implement water conservation measures inside their premises as required by any other Statutory Body or Agency.
