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Karnataka has introduced a comprehensive regulatory mechanism for groundwater extraction, making charges and digital metering mandatory for all user categories. Rates vary from INR 1 to INR 35 per cubic metre, depending on usage and groundwater zone classification. Residential, commercial, and industrial users must obtain NOCs and install approved meters. Tanker operators face strict volume caps. Penalties for non-compliance range from INR 5,000 to INR 200,000. Revenues will fund recharge and conservation projects to help reverse decades of groundwater overuse. The move marks a decisive shift toward sustainable and accountable water management in the state.
The Karnataka government has implemented sweeping new regulations governing groundwater extraction across the state. Under the revised policy that came into effect in the past week, all categories of groundwater users including residential communities, commercial establishments, industrial units, mining operators, tanker suppliers, and bulk water distributors are now subject to mandatory extraction charges. The rates range from INR 1 to INR 35 per cubic metre, depending on the volume of water withdrawn and the categorization of the groundwater zone (safe, semi-critical, critical, or over-exploited). Advertisement
The regulation mandates the installation of water meters for all users. Residential borewell owners drawing less than 25 cubic metres per day are exempt from charges but are still required to install digital flow meters. For those drawing between 25 and 200 cubic metres daily, the rate is fixed at Re 1 per cubic metre. If consumption exceeds 200 cubic metres, the rate increases to INR 2 per cubic metre. Housing societies, however, must install telemetry-enabled meters capable of real-time monitoring.
Industrial and commercial establishments will face a tiered structure. In safe zones, they will be charged INR 6 per cubic metre; the rate increases to INR 10 in semi-critical areas, INR 15 in critical areas, and INR 20 in over-exploited zones. Mining operations and bulk water suppliers face the steepest tariffs, which could go up to INR 35 per cubic metre in the most severely affected groundwater zones.
Tanker suppliers have been capped on the volume they can extract per day. In safe zones, they are allowed up to 50,000 litres daily; this limit drops to 20,000 litres in critical and over-exploited areas. Overdrawing beyond the permitted quantity will invite stiff penalties.
All users are now required to obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) before initiating any new groundwater extraction or borewell digging. This applies uniformly to individual users, residential societies, industrial establishments, and tanker operators. Failing to obtain an NOC or bypassing the metering requirement will result in fines ranging from INR 5,000 to INR 200,000, depending on the scale and nature of the violation.
Projects that already have approved NOCs and functioning groundwater recharge systems in place will be eligible for a 50% concession on extraction charges, an incentive aimed at promoting sustainable practices.
The collected charges will be directed toward a state-level groundwater fund. This fund is earmarked for implementing recharge projects, developing rainwater harvesting systems, and investing in water conservation infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. The aim is to reverse the alarming depletion levels in regions like Kolar, Bengaluru Urban, and Chikkaballapur, where groundwater levels have plummeted due to unchecked extraction and inadequate recharge efforts.
The Department of Mines and Geology, which oversees groundwater regulation in the state, will be responsible for monitoring compliance, issuing NOCs, and handling violations. Integration with real-time telemetry systems is expected to significantly enhance transparency and enforcement.
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