What is the Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Central Groundwater Certification

What is the Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Central Groundwater Certification: Central Ground Water Authority is constituted by the government of India under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986. It is established to control and regulate the development and management of groundwater resources in the country.  The Authority is in charge of managing how groundwater is produced. They do this by using different methods, such as giving permission through No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for taking out groundwater and sending out notifications and instructions when needed. Here in this Blog, we will discuss further the eligibility criteria and requirements for Central Groundwater Certification.

Eligibility Criteria for Central Groundwater Authority NOC

The Central Groundwater Certification (CGC) is a mandatory requirement for all industries, mining projects, and infrastructure projects that abstract groundwater in India. So in order to meet the requirements for obtaining a Central Groundwater License from CGWA Registration Authority, have a look at the Eligibility Criteria for Central Groundwater Certification provided below:

• The project must be located in a state or union territory where the CGWA has jurisdiction.
• The project must be for the abstraction of groundwater through energized means (i.e., using pumps).
• The project must be for the abstraction of more than 10 cubic meters of groundwater per day.

General Process for Obtaining a Central Groundwater Authority NOC for different categories

• Go to the online application for Central Groundwater Authority Registration NOC, click on new user registration and create a login ID.

• Apply with your login ID and choose the appropriate category for your application.

• Provide all the necessary details in the application form and save the application as a draft.

• Upload the required documents
• Submit the application

• Print out the forms, Get the necessary forms printed, sign them respectively and attach the Demand Draft (DD) with the application.

• Submit the signed forms and DD to the regional director of CGWA within 7 days from the submission date.

• Use the generated application ID to check the status of your application.

Documents Required for obtaining CGWA/CGWB NOC for Infrastructure water boring

• In accordance with Application form Sl. No. 6, the following requirements must be fulfilled to obtain permission to operate, establish, and receive approval letters from relevant statutory bodies such as the Ministry of Environment and Forest Affairs, State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), or State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SLEIAA).
• A map indicating the location and site plan, as per Application form SI. No. 1 (ii).
• For groundwater withdrawal only, a flow chart illustrating the water requirement and recycled water usage at each stage, as per Sl. No. 3(ii), (iii) of the Application Form. The flow chart should include all relevant details presented in a tabular format, and an example flow chart is provided as a reference.
• A certificate of water availability/non-availability from the government water supplying body, as per Application form Sl. No. 1(vi). This requires a self-declaration.
• Assessment of water requirements based on CPHEEO guidelines, including the recycling and reusing of treated water, as specified in Sl. No. 2 of the Application Form.
• If the industry's groundwater extraction exceeds 500 m3/day, a comprehensive report on groundwater conditions within a 5 km radius of the area is mandatory, in accordance with Sl. No. 7 of the Application Form.
• A groundwater quality report for all existing tube wells conducted by a government-approved laboratory, as per Sl. No. 6(a) of the Application Form.
• A letter of authorization from the relevant authority.

Documents Required for obtaining Central Groundwater Authority Certificate (CGWA) for the Industrial sector

• Obtain permission, establish, and receive an approval letter from relevant statutory organizations, including the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), or the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SLEIAA), as outlined in Sl. No. 6 of the Application Form.
• Submission of a location map and site plan, as per Application form Sl. No. 1(ii).
• For groundwater withdrawal purposes only, provide a flow chart that illustrates the water requirement and the use of recycled water at each stage, as specified in Sl. No. 3(ii), (iii) of the Application Form.
• Include a certificate of water availability/non-availability from the government water supplying body, as per Application form Sl. No. 1(vi). This certificate should be accompanied by a self-declaration.
• Prepare a proposal for rainwater harvesting/artificial recharge in accordance with the Guidelines or Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals or Requests for Ground Water Abstraction, as stated in Sl. No. 8 of the Application Form.
• Assess the water requirements based on CPHEEO guidelines, including the recycling and reuse of treated water, as per Sl. No. 2 of the Application Form.
• Conduct a comprehensive study on groundwater conditions within a 5 km radius of the region if the industry's groundwater extraction reaches a rate of 500 m3/day or higher, as per Sl. No.7 of the Application Form.
• Arrange for a groundwater quality report on all existing tube wells to be conducted by a government-approved laboratory, as specified in Sl. No.6(a) of the Application Form.
• Provide a letter of authorization from the concerned authority.

Requirement of Documents for a Central Groundwater Authority Compliance for Mining Projects

• TOR/EC/Approval letter from relevant statutory organizations such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), the State Pollution Control Board, the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), or the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SLEIAA), as stated in Sl. No.21 of the Application Form.
• Submission of a location map and site plan, as required in Application form Sl. No. 1(ii).
• Conduct a groundwater quality report on all existing tube wells, which should be carried out by a government-approved laboratory, as per Application form Sl. No.17(e).
• Provide a letter of authorization from the concerned authority.
• Prepare a detailed report on groundwater conditions within a 5 km radius of the area, as outlined in Application form Sl. No.19.
• Display groundwater regime monitoring wells on a map, in accordance with Sl. No.17 of the Application Form.
• Create a flow chart that illustrates the amount of water required and the amount of recycled water used at each stage of the process. An example flow chart is provided as a reference in Sl. No.14 of the Application Form.
• Submit a proposal for rainwater harvesting/artificial recharge, as required by Sl. No.20 of the Application Form.

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