Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Act

Environmental200228 sections

The Kerala Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Act, 2002 regulates the conservation, extraction, and utilization of groundwater across the State of Kerala. It applies to all groundwater users, well owners, and individuals or commercial entities seeking to dig new wells or install heavy-duty pumping equipment. Under the law, a State Ground Water Authority is established to register existing wells, issue permits in designated notified areas, and protect public drinking water sources from depletion or contamination. This legislation matters because indiscriminate extraction causes severe environmental degradation, making statutory oversight vital to ensure sustainable water management and safeguard public drinking supplies.

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  1. 0. Preamble
  2. 1. Short title, extent and commencement-(1) This Act may be called the
  3. 2. Definition- (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
  4. 3. State Ground Water Authority-(1) The Government shall, by
  5. 4. Acts not to be invalidated by irregularity, vacancy etc- No act done or
  6. 5. Officers and staff of the Authority- All officers and other employe of
  7. 6. Authority under this Act or for the proper exercise of the powers under this Act.
  8. 7. Grant of Permit to extract and use ground water
  9. 8. Registration of the existing wells of the notified area-(1) Every owner
  10. 9. Registration of user of Ground Water- (1) All users of ground water in
  11. 10. Provided that no application for registration shall be rejected without giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard.
  12. 11. Power to make changes to the conditions in the permit or certificate of registration
  13. 12. Provided that before taking such action, the Authority shall ensure that no standing crops are damaged by this decision.
  14. 13. Grants From State Government
  15. 14. Ground Water Authority by way of grants such sum of money as it may consider necessary for carrying out the purpose of this Act.
  16. 15. Powers of Ground Water Authority.- (1) The Authority shall have power.-
  17. 16. Implementation of orders, etc
  18. 17. Delegation of powers and duties
  19. 18. Members and Employees of Ground Water Authority to be public servants.-
  20. 19. Protection of action taken in good fail:- No suit prosecution or other legal
  21. 20. Cognizance of offences and Trial
  22. 21. Authority.
  23. 22. Compounding of offences
  24. 23. Offences by Companies
  25. 24. Appeals
  26. 25. Accounts and Audit
  27. 26. Government shall, as early as possible cause the same to be laid before the Legislative Assembly.
  28. 27. Power to make rules

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