Gujarat Drafts Groundwater Law, Proposes up to ₹10 Lakh Fine and Jail for Violations
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The government is going to propose Gujarat Groundwater Bill, 2026, aims to regulate groundwater as a shared public resource, make rainwater harvesting mandatory, and impose penalties of up to ₹10 lakh and imprisonment for violations.
The proposed bill is expected to be introduced next month, will prioritise groundwater use for drinking, agriculture and livelihood purposes. The legislation also proposes strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for groundwater pollution and illegal extraction.
State authority to regulate groundwater use
Officials said the government plans to establish the Gujarat State Groundwater Regulation and Development Authority to oversee groundwater management across the state.
According to officials, the authority will be responsible for implementing policies aimed at sustainable groundwater use and regulating extraction through a state-wide monitoring framework.
Groundwater protection zones proposed
The bill will empower the government to notify ecologically fragile regions as groundwater protection zones, where groundwater extraction and use can be restricted to prevent aquifers from drying up.
Officials said the proposal is intended to protect vulnerable water sources in areas facing severe groundwater depletion.
Rainwater harvesting, recycling to be mandatory
The proposed legislation makes rainwater harvesting and water recycling mandatory.
Building plans will receive approval only if rainwater harvesting provisions are included, and failure to install the required systems could attract fines as well as imprisonment.
Industries to need permission for groundwater extraction
Factories and bulk users will be required to obtain permission before extracting groundwater.
The bill proposes levying water charges on industrial and bulk users, while agriculture will remain exempt. Revenue collected through these charges will be used for groundwater conservation and recharge projects.
Local committees to prepare groundwater security plans
The legislation also proposes a decentralised governance framework through committees at the village, taluka, municipal, municipal corporation and district levels.
Groundwater security plans will be prepared for gram panchayats, talukas, municipalities, municipal corporations and districts to monitor local extraction and conservation practices.
Penalties of up to ₹10 lakh
The proposed law includes stringent penalties for violations.
Polluting groundwater could attract a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, while illegal extraction within a groundwater protection zone could result in penalties of up to ₹10 lakh, along with imprisonment.
Officials said the provisions are intended to curb illegal extraction, prevent contamination and promote sustainable groundwater management across Gujarat.
