36-Emerging Problems in Grounwater Regulation and Governance and the Need for a Groundwater Database - A Case Study from Orissa

Abstract

Central Ground Water Authority is constituted under section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to regulate and control development and management of groundwater resources in the country. CGWA under its capacity has declared a total number of 673 as over-exploited and 425 as critical blocks in the country, the list of which is being circulated to the State Pollution Control Boards and Ministry of Environment and Forests which refer the proposals of establishment of new industries/projects in critical/ over-exploited blocks to CGWA for obtaining permission. Due to the rapid growth in mineral and metal sector, numerous mineral based industries/companies have established their plants and started mining operation in Orissa since last few years. Most of them depend directly on ground water for their water requirement and others indirectly by tapping the base flow from the nearby rivers. As most of them fall in safe areas, CGWA is ignorant of such activities and vice versa. But the adverse impact of such projects on ground water especially bigger ones will crop up sooner or later, which will be of great concern to CGWA afterwards. Thus, there is an urgent need for creation of a database on ground water for such projects, so that impact on ground water before, during and after the implementation of the project can be ascertained and corrective measures can be taken from time to time in order to safeguard the precious groundwater resources. The onus should lie on the industry/project, and the regional offices of CGWB should be consulted for the same. This will not only help CGWA but also safeguard the industry/project especially large ones from wrong notions and spreading false propaganda.