Frequently Asked Questions

The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) is a statutory body established under the Punjab Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2020, to sustainably manage and regulate the state's water resources, particularly its groundwater, which is heavily exploited. The fees and charges are determined by the "Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023. The fees and charges are determined by the "Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023.

Key Functions and Objectives of PWRDA

Water Conservation
•    A core objective is to ensure exemplary water conservation through targeted measures for each user, with penalties or charges for non-compliance and the use of collected fees to fund conservation schemes.
 

Monitoring & Compliance
•    Regularly check groundwater levels and ensure that users comply with NOC conditions.
•    Take legal action and impose penalties for unauthorized water extraction.

Policy & Tariff Setting
•    Frame rules and tariffs for water usage by different sectors (industry, agriculture, domestic).
•    Ensure industries contribute to water conservation through charges or investments.
 

• The main objective of the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority is to manage and control water usage in the state in order to accomplish long-term groundwater management that is balanced with the needs of people livelihoods.
• Water conservation will be compulsory for all groundwater users, with the goal of encouraging them to implement water conservation measures at their own expense that will assist the State in meeting its water conservation objective for each zone.
• If the Water Users are unable to implement water conservation measures in order to fulfil their target, they will not be provided water credits to that extent and will be required to pay the Authority this amount as part of his groundwater usage charges. A portion of the Groundwater Charges will be used by the Authority to undertake Water Conservation Schemes that will be framed by the Government and carried out by the Government's designated Departments or Public Agencies. The goal will be to ensure that enough water is conserved to satisfy the goals set for each user in the state.

The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) do not charge a single, fixed government fee for bore well permission. Instead, the cost is structured into multiple components, with the most significant being the recurring volumetric Groundwater Extraction Charges. The fees and charges are determined by the "Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023."

1. One-Time Application Fees

•    Application Fee: A non-refundable fee is charged for processing the application for a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This fee can vary based on the type of unit and the volume of water requested.
•    Tube-well Registration Fee: A separate fee is applicable for the registration of each existing or proposed tube-well on the premises. As per past guidelines, this has been around ₹2,000 per tube-well.

2. Volumetric Groundwater Extraction Charges

This is the main cost component and is calculated based on the actual volume of groundwater extracted. The rates are designed to be progressive and vary depending on two key factors:
•    Categorization of the Block: The PWRDA has classified all administrative blocks in Punjab into three categories based on the level of groundwater stress:
      --  Green Zone: Blocks with a low level of groundwater extraction.
      --  Yellow Zone: Blocks with a medium level of groundwater extraction.
      --  Orange Zone: Blocks with a high level of groundwater extraction (most stressed).
•    Volume of Water Extracted: The charges are applied on a slab basis, meaning the per cubic meter rate increases as the monthly consumption goes up.
According to the PWRDA's guidelines, the charges per cubic meter (m³) vary significantly:
      --  Green Zone: The rates can range from approximately ₹4 to ₹14 per cubic meter, depending on the volume of extraction.
      --  Yellow Zone: The rates can range from approximately ₹6 to ₹18 per cubic meter.
      --  Orange Zone: The rates can range from approximately ₹8 to ₹22 per cubic meter.
These rates are subject to change and are announced by the PWRDA through official notifications.

3.  Advance Payment and Security Deposit

When an application is submitted, users are required to pay an advance amount equivalent to a certain period's worth of estimated charges (e.g., two months' worth of charges). This amount serves as a security deposit and is adjusted against the monthly bills.

4. Penalties and Non-Compliance Charges

The PWRDA has a strict policy on non-compliance, which can result in heavy penalties:
•    Groundwater Compensation Charges (GCC): These are imposed on users who extract groundwater without a valid NOC. The rates are significantly higher than the standard volumetric charges.
•    Late Payment Charges: A penalty is levied on the outstanding amount if the monthly charges are not paid on time.

Exemptions from Charges

It is important to note that certain users are exempt from paying these charges:
•    Groundwater use for agriculture, drinking, and domestic purposes.
•    Government water supply schemes.
•    Military and Central Paramilitary Forces.
•    Religious places and charitable institutions.
•    Users extracting less than 300 cubic meters per month.

The documents required for applying for a Registration from the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) for groundwater boring permission include detailed business, property, and technical information. Here is an elaborated list of typical required documents:

Documents Required for PWRDA Application

1. Proof of Business Registration
•    Certificate of Incorporation or Partnership Deed or PAN card in case of sole proprietorship
•    GST registration Certificate (if applicable)

2. Land & Ownership Documents
•     Land ownership proof (Registry/sale deed/lease deed/Rent agreement
•    Land plan/site plan with geo-coordinates of the project and bore well points

3. Environment Clearances & Consents
•    Consent to Establish (CTE) or Consent to Operate (CTO) from Punjab Pollution Control Board (if applicable)
•    Environmental Clearance (EC)from SEIAA/MOEFC (if project falls under EIA Notification 2006)
•    Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP)

4. Govt fee Payment Proof
•    Evidence of Payment of application or regulatory fees required by PWRDA

The water policy in Punjab refers to a state-level framework and set of regulations aimed at the management, conservation, and sustainable use of Punjab's water resources, including surface water, groundwater, and irrigation systems. The policy is essentially a set of laws, regulations, institutional reforms, and action plans intended to shift the state's water usage from an unsustainable, extraction-heavy model to a sustainable, conservation-focused model.

Objectives of Punjab Water Policy

•    Regulate & Control Water Use: Ensure that groundwater and surface water are extracted and used in controlled and legal manner. Issue permissions and impose charges for large-scale groundwater extraction.
•    Water Conservation in Urban & Industrial Sectors: Make rainwater harvesting compulsory in housing colonies, industries, and institutions. Ensure industries use treated wastewater instead of fresh groundwater wherever possible.
•    Conservation Initiatives: It incorporates strict measures for groundwater conservation such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and promoting less water intensive crops and irrigation methods to reduce overexploitation
•    Economic and Social Goals: The policy balances agricultural productivity requirements industrial and domestic needs and environmental protection, promoting efficient water use technological and protection of water quality

The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) is a statutory body established under the Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act, 2020. Its main role is to manage, regulate, and conserve the state's water resources to ensure their judicious, equitable, and sustainable utilization. This is particularly crucial for Punjab, a state facing severe groundwater depletion.

Key Roles of PWRDA

1.    Regulation of Groundwater Extraction

       --  Grant permissions / NOCs for groundwater withdrawal.
       --  Fix extraction limits and conditions for industries, commercial users, and institutions.
       --  Ensure that users above certain thresholds (e.g., >300 m³/month) are brought under regulation.

2.    Levying Groundwater Charges

        --  Impose Groundwater Extraction Charges (GEC) on non-exempt users.
        --  Differentiate charges by zone (over-exploited, semi-critical, safe areas).
        --  Use revenue for conservation and recharge schemes.

3.    Promoting water Conservation & Recharge

       --  Mandate rainwater harvesting and recharge structures.
       --  Promote efficient water use, recycling, and reuse.
       --  Fund and oversee groundwater recharge projects.

4.    Zoning & Monitoring

       --  Classify blocks/areas based on groundwater status (safe, semi-critical, critical, and over-exploited).
       --  Monitor groundwater levels and quality using meters, sensors, and field surveys.
       --  Collect extraction data from users through meters and reports.

5.    Enforcement & Compliance

       --  Take action against unauthorized or illegal groundwater extraction.
       --  Ensure mandatory installation of water meters for regulated users.
       --  Penalize defaulters who avoid registration, charges, or misuse water.

6.    Policy & Planning

       --  Frame directions and rules like the Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023.
       --  Prepare long-term strategies for water security in Punjab.
       --  Coordinate with Urban Local Bodies, Panchayat, and government departments.

7.    Awareness & Capacity Building

       --  Educate industries, farmers, and communities about water scarcity.
       --  Promote behavioral changes for water conservation.
       --  Encourage community participation in recharge and conservation schemes.
       --  Regulation and Enforcement
 

There are two categories of applications to UPGWD.

1.  Application for Registration of Bore Wells

2. Applications for Issuance of NOC for Bore Wells

Applications for Registration of Bore wells

1. In notified areas, new Boring Permissions are not allowed while for non-notified areas, 8A for NOC is required to be submitted by the applicant and then for registration of the bore well, apply Form 1A.
2. Submitting Form 1 B to UPGWD should be done by Existing users having valid CGWA NOC.
3. Applying to UPGWD with Form 8 B for both notified and non-notified areas for NOC  is needed for existing users who have Expired CGWA NOC but applied for renewal for the same to CGWA and then Form 1 A for Registration of Bore well.
4. Applying for NOC in Form 8 A for NOC is needed by all the existing users who have expired CGWA NOC and have not applied for renewal of the same and then Form 1 A for registration of bore well.

Applications for issuance of NOC for Bore wells

1. In Form 8 A for NOC, a new user is not allowed in notified area but can apply and then apply for Form 1 A for registration of bore well.
2. In Form 8 B, existing users with a valid CGWA NOC can apply to UPGWD for permission.
3. In Notified areas, an existing user with No Permission is not allowed but may apply for permission in Form 8 B for permission in non-notified areas.
4. Existing users may apply in Form 8 B, who have applied for CGWA NOC but have not received it yet.
5. By submitting Form 8 A for renewal of NOC, the existing users can file for the renewable and have an expired NOC and then apply Form 1 A for registration of Bore well.

1. CIN certificate of the private/public limited company
2. AOA /MOA
3. GST certificate
4. Company PAN Card
5. Adhaar card & PAN card of authorised person
6. State Pollution board certificate (CTE/CTO)
7. Electricity bill
8. Industrial area allotment letter/rent agreement
9. Layout plan/Naksha

In addition to the above stated documents, we would also require following information:

1. Diameter of boring
2. HP of pump / motor
3. Rooftop area in sq. ft
4. Open area in sq. ft
5. Paved area in sq. ft
6. Green area in sq. ft

The Government fee for UPGWD application is Rs.5000 / borewell. Besides, the applicant may have to spend some money for the following also:
1. Rain Water Harvesting Report
2. Water Level Diagram
3. Ground Water Laboratory Test Report
4. Hydrogeological Report
5. Impact Assessment Report 

Tyre EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility for tyres) is a policy that makes tyre manufacturers, importers, and recyclersresponsible for managing their products throughout their lifecycle. This includes the collection, recycling, and proper disposal of tyres once they are no longer usable to minimize environmental harm, such as pollution and landfill waste. The goal is to promote sustainability by ensuring that producers handle the environmental impacts of their products after use.
Under the Tyre EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) framework in India, which follows principles similar to those of the Plastic EPR, the entities required to obtain EPR Registration typically include:

Tyre Manufacturers:

Companies that manufacture tyres within India are required to register under the EPR framework.

Tyre Importers:

Businesses or entities that import tyres into India for sale or use must also obtain EPR registration. They are held accountable for managing the waste tyres they bring into the country.

Bulk Consumers:

Entities like large businesses, government organizations, and institutions that generate large amounts of tyres must ensure that their tyres are disposed of through registered recyclers or collection centers under the Tyre EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) framework.

Tyre Recyclers

A recycler is an entity that converts waste tyres into end products like reclaimed rubber, crumb rubber, CRMB (Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen), recovered carbon black (RCB), pyrolysis oil, or char, in an environmentally sound manner, using facilities specified by regulations.

Tyre Retreaders

The business entities engaged in the activity of tyre retreading are also required to get Tyre EPR so that these entities could transfer the credits earned to the tyre manufacturrs & tyre importers

The applicability of Tyre EPR Rules is on the following type of entities:

1. Manufacturers of New Tyres
2. Importers of new tyres
3. Recyclers of tyre waste
4. Tyre retreaders 

The procedure for online application for Tyre EPR on the CPCB Tyre EPR portals is as following:

Prepare Documents:

Gather business details, waste management plan, agreements with recyclers, and compliance certificates.
 

Fill Form 1:

Complete the EPR application form with company and tyre production details.

Submit on CPCB Portal:

Upload Form 1 and other documents to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) online portal.

Review and Verification:

After submitting the application, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) carefully examines the provided documents to ensure that the applicant complies with the Tyre EPR regulations. This review involves checking the accuracy and completeness of the information, such as the waste management plan, partnerships with registered recyclers, and overall environmental compliance. 

Tyre EPR Issuance:

Upon approval, the EPR certificate is granted online & can be downloaded by the applicant. 
 

The fee taken by the government for Tyre EPR is Rs.10,000. An agency may charge you accordingly if hired to do the filing & annual compliances.

The Govt. fee for different types of usages are as following:

Generally, between 30 – 45 days is taken by the CPCB, to issue you the EPR Registration, if all the documents provided to the CPCB are enough and no new document is required to be uploaded.

The EPR mean Extended Producer Responsibility Earlier, an importer or manufacturer were not bound to make sure that the batteries imported/manufactured by him are properly recycled as per environmental norms for recycling of used batteries.
 The EPRA is a compliance tool in the hand of Union Governments all are the world and this tool is being used to encourage the private investment in battery recycling businesses, while effectively managing the battery waste.

The Battery EPR Certificate is issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The business entity is required to apply online for the Battery EPR Certificate.

The manufactures importers, dealers, consumers and entities involved in recycling of used batteries.

All types of batteries, irrespective of their chemistry, materials used, shape and size.