Overexploitation of groundwater for domestic use in Delhi-NCR, water level falling rapidly.:Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Chaudhary told the Lok Sabha.

News Topical, Digital Desk : The government on Thursday told the Lok Sabha that groundwater is being over-exploited for domestic use in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) districts.

Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, in response to a question, said that according to data available with the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), 71.88 percent of total groundwater extraction in Delhi is for domestic purposes. This total groundwater extraction for domestic use also includes apartments in high-rise buildings.

The Minister said that at the central level, the CGWA regulates groundwater extraction, while 17 states and union territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, have their own regulatory mechanisms. The CGWA issues No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater extraction in 19 states and union territories for various purposes.

As per the guidelines, groundwater exploitation charges are levied as per the prescribed slabs on various projects including industries and housing apartments/group housing societies.

The authority is taking stringent measures for illegal groundwater extraction, including imposing heavy fines and environmental compensation charges, and also sealing borewells in appropriate cases.

CGWA guidelines stipulate that NOCs for residential apartments and group housing societies will be granted only in cases where the local government water supply agency is unable to supply the required quantity of water to the area. Installation of digital water flow meters in all groundwater extraction wells is mandatory for all

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has prepared Model Building Bylaws (MBBL) for states and union territories, with emphasis on rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.

According to MBBL, all buildings with plot size of 100 sq m or more must mandatorily include rainwater harvesting proposals and as per information provided by Delhi Jal Board, this is being followed in Delhi.

The minister said that 73.25 per cent of the wells monitored across the country have recorded an increase in groundwater levels in the post-monsoon period of 2025 compared to the decadal average between 2015-2024.

The annual assessment of groundwater resources being carried out by the CGWB from 2022 shows that total groundwater recharge is projected to increase from 432 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2017 to 448.52 BCM in 2025.