Punjab to regulate groundwater use by industrial, commercial users

LAHORE: In a bid to ensure sustainable water use by introducing pioneering regulatory framework, Punjab province is going to bind existing and new commercial and industrial users to obtain a permit for groundwater extraction.

The proposed regulation of groundwater use is aimed at scrutinising unabated extracting of water by various users. For this purpose, the draft ‘Punjab Groundwater Protection, Regulation and Development Act (2017)’ is being consulted with the stakeholders, and provincial government is likely to get it approved from relevant forums in near future.

Punjab is blessed with the biggest aquifer in the country, and hence is the largest user of sweet groundwater among all provinces. However, unbridled use of water by various users is seriously hurting the water table, and adversely affecting both quality and quantity of water.

With rising requirements, industrial sector in the country is predominantly dependent on groundwater for meeting its needs. For the most part, the commercial users also directly or indirectly rely on groundwater for meeting the requirement in the province.

Under the draft Punjab Groundwater Protection, Regulation and Development Act (2017), which was prepared by the provincial irrigation department, ‘Punjab Ground Water Commission’ will be established to develop ‘Groundwater Management Plan’ in consultation with major stakeholders.

The violation of the proposed law relating to water use will also be considered an offence. According to the draft law, imprisonment of three months to six months or fine from Rs20,000 to Rs50,000 or both would be imposed for operating or installing a well for industrial or commercial use without a valid registration or permit in critical area, while the penalty would be doubled for second violation by the same person.

Under the proposed law, administrative measures can be taken to ameliorate the situation in the drought area, including closure of any large scale commercial or industrial well to protect the aquifer.

Moreover, the proposed commission may direct any owner of a large scale commercial or industrial well to recharge the groundwater to the extent and the manner specified by the commission.

“No large scale commercial or industrial project shall be undertaken in a defined critical area, without prior approval of the commission, given after public hearing in the manner provided by the regulations,” as per the proposed law.

The commission would not grant approval for extracting water by commercial and industrial users in certain areas unless it was satisfied about the availability of ground water on long term sustainability basis.

As per provisions of the proposed law, the commission might, with the approval of the government, fix basic water allowance for groundwater uses and levy prescribed water charges on extraction of water beyond such allowance. The other salient features of the proposed act include developing ‘Groundwater Management Plan’ in consultation with major stakeholders. The plan includes identification of critical area with comprehensive description and making physical map of the area with complete description of the aquifer, including groundwater levels, quantitative and qualitative details.

The management plan also envisions past, present and projected water availability, demand and actual uses, share of present and past availability and use of ground water, extent and methods of recharge of aquifer along with monitoring and management of ground water level and quantity.

The plan also takes proactive measures for mitigation of saline water intrusion coupled with determining distance of new tube wells from existing wells. It will also come up with solid irrigation efficiency and water saving strategy.