Panaji, Dec 17 (TOI): To curb groundwater misuse, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) will implement new regulations from June 1, 2019, envisaging recovery of water conservation fee (WCF) from various users ranging from mining and industries to infrastructure and construction projects.

The guidelines which will supersede all its earlier guidelines will require these activities to obtain NOCs online through a web-based application system.

Various rates of WCF have been fixed for packaged drinking water units, mining leases and infrastructure projects in safe, semi-critical, critical and overexploited areas.

The guidelines require existing and new mining projects, which seek to carry out mine dewatering or ground water withdrawal, will have to secure approval for it. The water pumped out will have to be suitably used for water supply, irrigation, dust suppression and mining process.

Any new infrastructure projects or residential buildings requiring dewatering or groundwater use during construction would also need a similar approval. Individual households drawing or proposing to source groundwater from a single dug well, or bore or tube well through delivery pipe of up to 1 inch diameter as also agricultural users and armed forces establishments have been exempted from paying the fee.

Goa has its own Groundwater Regulation Act, 2002, and rules framed thereafter. “We will consider suitably amending the rules if needed,” an official from the water resources department said.