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1 week ago
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The groundwater levels in Karnataka are falling steadily, and the State now ranks ninth in the country in terms of water depletion, noted Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju, even as the Legislative Council on Thursday passed the Karnataka Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The Bill aims to check the year-on-year depletion of groundwater levels and to increase the availability of groundwater. The Bill makes it mandatory to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for digging borewells in notified areas. It also proposes levying charges for groundwater extraction, along with several other regulatory measures.
He noted that the Bill is being brought in line with directions from the Central government, and similar legislation has already been implemented in 15 other States.
‘Water is Future’
To raise awareness about the importance of water and encourage groundwater recharge, the State government is planning to organise year-long programmes under the banner ‘Water is Future’ across Karnataka. These programmes will be held through urban and rural local bodies. Volunteers will be selected to serve as free brand ambassadors to promote the campaign. The government has earmarked over ₹5 crore for this initiative, Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju informed the Legislative Council
The Bill offers exemption from obtaining NOCs for borewells drilled for domestic use, rural drinking water schemes, and those drilled exclusively for drinking water purposes by urban and rural defence establishments, and institutions of the central armed forces. However, large-scale water supply users will be charged appropriately depending on the quantum of groundwater drawn.
While industries, mining, infrastructure projects, residential apartments, and housing societies are exempted from obtaining NOCs, the law specifies the daily limits on the amount of groundwater they may extract.
During the debate, members, including Ivan D’Souza, D.T. Srinivas and Balkis Banu from the Congress, P.H. Pujar, N. Ravikumar, D.S. Arun, Bharati Shetty, Chidananda Gowda, Gopinath and Hemalatha Nayak from the BJP and Govindaraju, T.A. Saravana and Manjegowda from JD(S), expressed concern over the falling groundwater levels.
Members, cutting across parties, urged the government to take steps not only to reduce groundwater usage but also to augment recharge. Members stressed the need to make rainwater harvesting mandatory, saying that if the piped supply is improved, people would not be forced to depend on borewells.
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