West Bengal has a very good groundwater potential. The reason of
such affluence is due to her geographical location, high rainfall, and
geological setting. But in recent times groundwater development in some
districts in this state has been increased to such an extent that in some areas
conditions of near overexploitation has developed. The condition, though not
severe yet, has inspired hydro-geologists to think for conservation and
sustainable development of groundwater. It has become necessary to assess the
state of art and to find ways to augment the resource. Groundwater is not an
isolated resource. It is a phenomenon within the hydrological cycle. So
depending on the hydro-geological condition, water level condition, and stage
of development proper measure for control of groundwater exploitation should be
undertaken.
Now groundwater in West Bengal has now become a
precious commodity. New industries are coming up in west Bengal, who will also
be more dependants on groundwater. So the Act is a very timely intervention of
the Government in proper management and conservation of the precious natural
resource. It has become a great task of the implementing agency to carry on
with it.
Initially the groundwater
Act 2005 was extensive and covered all types of structures that exploit
groundwater through mechanical pumping devices. But recent changes have spared
the farmers from obtaining permit. So the Act is now being implemented upon industries
that are willing to use groundwater for their production or other uses in the
industrial areas.
Some significant changes
are made to the procedures for obtaining permit, though the main protocols,
like submission of application, depositing permit/ application fees, and the
authority who will receive the permit have not been changed.
There are two
authorities:
1) the District Level
Authority or the DLA, where the District Majistrate of the respective district
is the chairman and the Geologist in charge of the district level offices of
State Water Investigation Directorate (SWID) is the member secretary and the
key technical person. The DLA has 10 to 12 maembers from the line departments
and the Zilla Parishad who will initially examine the application.
2) The State level
authority (SLA) gives the final vetting of the application. The Superintending
Geologist of SWID is the member secretary and the Director SWID is the chairman
of the SLA. There are other members of the Expert Committee from departments
like, PHED, CGWB, Agriculture, Irrigation, Minor Irrigation etc.
The basic procedures for
obtaining the permit are:
1. Apply
in plain paper to the DLA and collect requisite number of application forms
from the DLA. The format of the form is available at http://www.howrah.gov.in/Templates/swid/FORM%20I%20-%208%20TO%2010.pdf
2. Fill
up the form (it is a bit complicated) collect all required documents and
information and get treasury challan form (TR 7). You can download the form
here http://birbhum.gov.in/try2/9TR_Form_No_7.pdf
3. Fill
up the treasury challan and visit the geologist of your district (where the
industry will come up). 4 copies of TR form will be required for each
application.
4. The
Geologist (the member secretary of the SLA) will sign on your TR form.
5. You
will then have to deposit the application fee (Rs. 500) to the State Bank of
India branch of the district. The Bank will return 2 copies of the TR form.
6. You
now come back to the DLA office and submit the Application form along with the
TR form and the relevant documents.
7. The
member secretary will examine the form, your water requirement, visit the location
of the propose tubewell, prepare a note on the hydrogeological condition of the
site, the merit of the application and place it to the DLA meeting.
8. DLA
if satisfied forward the application to the SLA with their recommendation.
9. Your
Case will be discussed in the SLA meeitng and a high power committee will
examine your case. If they are satisfied they will vet the case and instruct
the DLA to issue the permit.
10. The
DLA will issue a letter of information to the applicant. The applicant will
again submit Rs. 1000 as permit fee to the bank. Come back to the geologist and
receive the permit.
The
documents required: (not limited to)
1. The
application form duly filled in.
2. DPR
of your Industrial Project + proof of ownership of land
3. The
mouza map of the area showing the location of the proposed tube well.
4. Your
detailed break up of water use.
5. You
detailed plan about how you are going the get the required water, the quantity
and source
6. Your
water conservation plan
7. Your
rainwater harvesting plan
8. Details
of water harvesting structures ( no groundwater recharge in industrial area is
allowed by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board)
9. Location
of the RWH ponds will have to be shown in the mouza map and also in the
proposed layout plan.
10. A
declaration in plain paper that you will maintain the RWH ponds as long as the
plant will be there.
11. You
will have to keep the existing ponds in your plant, but if you wish to fill it
you will have to take necessary arrangements fos alternative pond excavation
and conversion of the pond land.
12. Your
CSR activities related to groundwater conservation and augmentation.
13. A
hydro-geological feasibility report of your proposed plant area (buffer zone)
to support your demand.
14. Impact analysis of the whole operation of groundwater extraction.
14. Impact analysis of the whole operation of groundwater extraction.
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