Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) – Guidelines & Exemptions

What is CGWA?

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was constituted by the Government of India under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, on the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court (MC Mehta vs Union of India, 1996).
CGWA regulates and controls groundwater extraction across India to ensure sustainable water management. It grants No Objection Certificates (CGWA NOCs) to industries, mining projects, and infrastructure developments that require groundwater for operations.

👉 Applicability:

  • These guidelines are pan-India (all states & UTs).
  • Where states already regulate groundwater, their rules apply.
  • If state rules conflict with CGWA guidelines, CGWA rules prevail.
  • States can add stricter norms based on local hydro-geology.
cgwa noc

Who Needs a CGWA NOC?

All new/existing industries, expansion projects, mining activities, and infrastructure projects using groundwater must obtain CGWA permission (except exempted categories).

Industries that require cGWA NOC

Every Industries using ground water for commercial Purpose
Food & beverage manufacturing units
Packaged drinking water plants
Textile, chemical, and pharma units
Mining & quarrying projects
Large-scale infrastructure projects (metros, construction, townships, etc.)

Exemptions from CGWA NOC

Not everyone needs CGWA approval. Certain categories of small users, households, and public projects are exempted.

Sectors got CGWA Exemptions

Individual domestic consumers (rural & urban) using groundwater for drinking & household needs.
Rural drinking water supply schemes.
Armed Forces & Central Armed Police Forces establishments (for domestic use).
Agricultural activities (farmers using groundwater for irrigation).
Micro & small enterprises drawing less than 10 cubic meters/day.
Industries/infrastructure/mining projects using groundwater only for drinking/domestic purposes up to 5 cubic meters/day.
Residential apartments & group housing societies:
Upto 20 cubic meters/day for drinking/domestic use (with rainwater harvesting provisions).

Domestic and Small Users’ Exemption

Households and small-scale users are not required to apply for CGWA NOC if:

Groundwater is used for personal drinking and domestic needs.
Usage is minimal (as per exemption limits).
Rainwater harvesting is implemented in group housing/apartments.

Exemptions for Agriculture & Households

Farmers drawing groundwater for irrigation and agriculture do not need permission
Small enterprises below 10 cum/day usage are exempt.
Residential group housing societies are allowed up to 20 cum/day for domestic use.

Rainwater Harvesting-Linked Exemptions

For group housing & residential societies, exemption is subject to rainwater harvesting implementation.
This encourages groundwater recharge and sustainable water use.

Lifetime Exemption for Small Industries
(Usage Below 10 KLD)

Industries using less than 10,000 litres/day (10 KLD) of groundwater get a lifetime CGWA exemption, but they must apply on the BhuNeer Portal, submit required documents, and obtain the Exemption Certificate. It is mandatory to maintain a logbook, install a flow meter/digital device, and record daily usage.

Apply for CGWA Exemption

Important Links related to CGWA NOC

How to Register on Bhuneer Portal
Apply for Cgwa noc less than 10 KLD
Apply for Cgwa noc more than 10 KLD
Documents Required for Applying Cgwa noc
Know Your Ground Water charges
Ground Water Abstraction charges for Drinking & Domestic use
Download Forms and Affidavits
Know Your Penalty And other Charges
Know Your Environmental Compensation
Monitoring of compliance of No Objection Certificate Conditions
Renewal of No Objection Certificate
Extension of No Objection Certificate
Ground Water Level Monitoring
Charges for correction/Modification in the existing issued No Objection Certificate
Water Requirements for Buildings Other than Residences
Guidelines for construction of Piezometers and monitoring of Ground Water Levels and Quality
List of States/Union territories where ground water extraction is being regulated by Central Ground Water
Authority