BENGALURU: In a significant effort to manage groundwater resources and promote sustainability, the state government has introduced fees ranging from Re 1 to Rs 35 per cubic metre for various users of groundwater, including individuals, housing societies, commercial establishments, industries, and mining operations throughout the state.
The fees will affect all types of residential complexes, group housing societies, as well as government bodies providing water in urban settings. Commercial entities and mining operations will also be subject to these new regulations.
Moreover, the government has mandated that all residential and commercial property owners secure a no-objection certificate (NOC) prior to drilling borewells or extracting groundwater. The earlier Karnataka Groundwater Regulations from 2011 and 2012 permitted water extraction with an NOC but did not impose any fees or include tanker suppliers.
Apartment complexes and group housing societies using between 25-200 cubic metres daily will incur a charge of Re 1 per cubic metre, while those exceeding 200 cubic metres will be charged Rs 2 per cubic metre. There will be no fees for usage up to 25 cubic metres.
Industries, as well as infrastructure and mining projects, will be charged according to the groundwater classification of the taluk—ranging from safe to over-exploited. However, a 50% fee concession will be granted to existing projects that fulfill NOC conditions, including the establishment of groundwater recharge structures.
The NOC regulations and fees have also been extended to bulk water suppliers and tankers. Although the Centre limits tanker use to domestic and drinking purposes, Karnataka has permitted broader applications due to geological constraints that affect groundwater recharge, such as granite and schist formations.
The minor irrigation department noted: “Certain regions have groundwater with high salinity levels that are unsuitable for industrial use, potentially impacting economic growth. To mitigate this, amendments are proposed to allow bulk water supply for various purposes, including drinking, industrial, commercial, mining, and infrastructure development.”
Tankers will now be subject to extraction limits—150 cubic metres daily in safe zones, 100 in semi-critical and critical zones, and only 50 in over-exploited areas.
The government has also required all apartment complexes and homes with borewells to install digital water flow meters, with telemetry systems mandated for apartments. Violations will incur penalties ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 2 lakh, based on consumption levels of 200 KLD to 5,000 KLD or more.
The fees collected from groundwater extraction will fund recharge and conservation efforts, aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the state’s essential water resources.
