Chapter VII GROUNDWATER SURVEYS AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency shall identify, delineate and declare the basic watershed or aquifer in the State, alongwith the boundaries thereof, for the purposes of this Act.

The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency shall carryout, on priority, the delineation of Area of Influence of the notified Public Drinking Water Sources.

The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency shall assist the Watershed Water Resources Committee and Panchayat in preparation of watershed or aquifer based groundwater use plan in the manner as may be prescribed.

The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency shall assist the District Watershed Management Committee in the preparation of the Integrated Watershed Development and Management Plan for the artificial recharge of groundwater.

1. (1) The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency shall carry out the necessary hydro-geological studies and supporting work, as entrusted by the State Authority, the District Authority, the Watershed Water Resources Committee, Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or urban local bodies in the manner as may be prescribed.
2. (2) The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency shall carry out any other functions and duties entrusted to it under the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder.

The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency shall render technical advise to the Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and urban local bodies in the non-notified areas to monitor and encourage the individual measures of artificial groundwater recharge for existing well to protect the Safe Watershed Status of the area and to permit any person or a user of groundwater to drill borewell or tubewell upto sixty metres in non-notified area: Provided that, for this purpose the Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and urban local bodies shall prepare and maintain the water account and water budget of the area, plan and execute watershed or aquifer based groundwater recharge and groundwater use plan, in the manner as may be prescribed and while deciding applications for permission to drill such borewells and tubewells, it shall take into consideration the groundwater use plan and technical advise of the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency: Provided further that, any permission for sinking a well in non-notified area shall be subject to the condition of construction of artificial recharge structure of appropriate size within the specified period, as may be prescribed.