STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The State Cabinet approved the Assam Ground Water Control and Regulation Rules, 2022, ten years after the Act passed.
The Cabinet said, "The approved rules will enable efficient implementation of the Act. Under the rules, the authorities will constitute the Assam State Ground Water Authority and zonal groundwater authorities under the provisions of Section 3.1 (i, ii, iii and iv) and Section 2 (I and ii) of the Act to discharge the task laid down under the Act."
The Tarun Gogoi-led government enacted the Assam Ground Water Control and Regulation Act in 2012 to regulate and control, manage and develop groundwater in the state. However, since the previous governments did not frame the rules, the authorities concerned did not have control and regulation over groundwater extraction. The rampant and unauthorized extraction of groundwater has done much damage to the water table in the state.
Since the previous governments did not approve and notify the rules under the Act, the authorities concerned had to face hurdles in taking action against the rampant and unauthorized extraction of groundwater in the absence of rules.
The previous government had entrusted the Department of Irrigation to frame the rules of the Act. The Irrigation Department prepared the draft rules and circulated that to Water Resources, Urban Development Department, Agriculture Department, Geology and Mining Department, PHE Department, GMC and the GMDA for their views. However, the Irrigation Department did not get the views in time. And the draft rules were waiting for the final shape.
According to official sources, the present government realized the ground situation and approved the rules. All concerned will have to follow the restrictions and regulations under the Act for extracting groundwater now, sources said.
According to sources, the recent notification of the Government of India exempted the extraction of groundwater for domestic use, use by minor industries etc., from the restrictions and regulations under the Act. When a 24X7 water supply becomes a reality, the authorities may consider an alternative provision for permitting groundwater extraction for commercial purposes.
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