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Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
4 Gurgaon realtors fined Rs 5 crore for illegal groundwater extraction, borewells sealed after NGT order
Gurgaon: Four realtors in the city were fined Rs 5 crore by Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA) for unauthorised groundwater extraction following an order by NGT. Borewells and sump wells at these project sites, which are located in sectors 102, 103 and 37D, were also sealed, stated an inquiry report filed by HWRA chairperson Keshni Anand Arora to NGT. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The case stems from a plea initiated in NGT in 2023 over groundwater violations in the city. A joint committee of NGT submitted its report confirming the violations in Nov 2023. "We imposed a Rs 5 crore penalty on four real estate projects in the city. Earlier, we had submitted a report on the violations to NGT," a senior HWRA official told TOI. However, during a hearing in April this year, an NGT bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava criticised the delay in enforcement by state authorities. "The latest reply, dated April 22, 2025, filed by the CEO, HWRA, only mentions that show-cause notices and a reminder notice were issued to the realtors," the tribunal noted, adding that to ascertain if the borewells existed with due permission, only the document granting permission was required to be verified. The tribunal raised concerns over why such a basic verification exercise had taken over a year to complete and directed HWRA to identify those responsible for the delay. Arora, who holds the rank of additional chief secretary in Haryana govt, was assigned the task of identifying the officials responsible for these oversights. HWRA's inquiry found that one of the project sites denied carrying out dewatering activities, but inspections revealed seven functional tubewells and confirmed the use of groundwater within the premises. Despite being issued 12 reminders online and 17 in writing, the realtor did not obtain the required no objection certificate (NOC). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Another site, which submitted an application for dewatering permission in Nov 2023, lacked a mandatory impact assessment report, which is essential for evaluating environmental implications and planning the safe disposal of extracted water. Inspections at the third project uncovered several tube wells, including two located outside the main complex, which were later sealed. In a separate case, the project proponent failed to appear for any of the HWRA's scheduled hearings, and their application for NOC is still pending. The case is next scheduled to be heard by NGT on July 7.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
HC asks Haryana to re-examine groundwater extraction fee policy for hospitals, banquet halls
1 2 Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Haryana govt and the Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA) to re-evaluate its policy on groundwater extraction fees with regard to hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and banquet halls. The HC wants state authorities to re-examine fee categorisation to ensure parity with industrial users. The court also restrained state authorities from taking any coercive action against the petitioners (health care service provider institutions and banquet halls) until the review process is completed. Justice Kuldeep Tiwari has passed these orders while disposing of a batch of 27 petitions filed by M/s White Oak Motel and Restaurants and others challenging the state notification dated Sep 10, 2021, which excluded their establishments from being treated as "industries" under Schedule I for the purpose of groundwater-use classification. Petitioners submitted that they are owners of banquet halls/marriage gardens/clinics/nursing homes etc., wherethrough, they are imparting services to the public at large. Moreover, the construction of the respective institutions/establishments is already complete, and now the petitioners only require water extraction for running their respective institutions/establishments. The main dispute was about differential treatment of establishments categorised under "industry" versus "infrastructure" with regard to groundwater extraction fee policy outlined in Schedule IV. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Everybody Is Switching To This Enterprise Accounting Software [Take a Look] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo Industrial users drawing less than 10 cubic metres per day are exempt from paying any fee. However, such an exemption does not apply to infrastructure users, a classification that includes hospitals, clinics, and marriage banquets. According to petitioners, this policy was discriminatory and irrational since many of their establishments provide essential public services, and their operations were being unfairly burdened when compared to industrial units. During the hearing of the matter, the counsel representing HWRA submitted that the issue could be reconsidered, noting that the existing policy was based on central govt models and may be due for a review. After hearing all parties, the court directed the state and HWRA to re-examine Schedule IV within two months and assess whether the fee categorisation applicable to industries can be extended to infrastructure users. In its recently released order, the judge, however, refrained from examining the legality of the 2021 notification on the grounds of arbitrariness or bias.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How Haryana plans to cut groundwater deficit by 50%
Gurgaon: Haryana govt on Tuesday announced its latest Integrated Water Resources Action Plan, under which it aims to save around 6 billion litres of water, just over half of the state's projected deficit of 12 billion litres by 2027. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The plan sets targets for 16 govt departments, which will be responsible for saving water over two fiscal years – 2025-26 and 2026-2027. Each department has been given a target of the amount of water it needs to save. Of this, over 90% of the target is to be reached by the agriculture and irrigation department, officials told TOI. Key interventions will include rainwater harvesting, reuse of treated water by industries and crackdown on borewells illegally extracting groundwater. Keshni Anand Arora, chairperson of Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA), said the plan was the govt's "most comprehensive approach to water management", but he acknowledged that "significant challenges remain". HWRA carried out the study and mapped interventions as well. To overcome the challenges, "We have been taking several steps for Gurgaon and Panipat like districts. For example, we have told them to carry out rooftop rainwater harvesting and ensure zero liquid discharge. Industries have been directed to use only treated water. Our teams have been carrying out several surveys and have issued closure notices to more than 80 borewells recently in Gurgaon and Faridabad that were found to be operating without permission. We are also fitting the tubewells with telemeters so that we know the consumption of groundwater," she told TOI. "The plan mandates 42 interventions that are focused on improving groundwater recharge, farming practices, water harvesting, and wastewater management. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative will also help build the capacity of local communities to manage water more efficiently. To track the progress of these activities and determine their impact, monitoring protocols based on aquifers, borewells and rivers could be used to compare the outcomes with the current situation," said Dr Manish Kumar, research scientist leading the adaptation & risk analysis group at Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). The Haryana government's Integrated Water Resources Action Plan (IWRAP) for 2025–2027 is a bold initiative, but experts have identified several key challenges that could hinder its successful implementation, for instance Haryana currently lacks a robust, real-time water monitoring infrastructure. Implementing and maintaining such systems across the state is resource-intensive. Excessive and often illegal extraction of groundwater, especially through unregulated borewells, continues to be a major issue. Enforcement of regulations remains weak in many areas. "Enforcement is difficult due to widespread non-compliance, lack of local oversight, and political or social resistance. Ensuring seamless coordination between 16 departments and accountability, and timely reporting across departments is complex and prone to bureaucratic delays," said Pradeep Rawat, water policy expert. Haryana must conserve water. According to the Central Groundwater Authority, 60% of the state's area was in the 'red' category for excess groundwater exploitation. Data collected every year also shows that the state extracts more groundwater than it replenishes. Haryana is water stressed as over 1,900 villages are classified as severely groundwater-stressed, with water tables deeper than 30 meters. Another 1,093 villages are moderately stressed (depth between 20–30 meters). Excessive groundwater extraction, especially for agriculture, has led to aquifer depletion . Water-intensive crops like paddy are widely grown, especially in areas with poor groundwater recharge. Inefficient irrigation practices further worsen the situation. Urban settlements are the main guzzlers. Gurgaon's water demand for domestic uses, at 369.7 million cubic metres (MCM) in 2022-2024, is the highest among all 22 districts of the state. This is more than double the demand of Faridabad, which ranks second at 150 MCM, according to Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA). At the other end of this spectrum are districts such as Charkhi Dadri, where most settlements are predominantly rural. The district's water need for domestic use is 21.4 MCM, just about 5% of Gurgaon's demand. Water demand for industrial use is equally skewed. Industries in Panipat lead this table, consuming an average of 532.8 MCM every 2022-2024 and accounting for 41% of the state's total usage. Gurgaon follows behind, at 271.5 MCM. Palwal ranks at the bottom, with negligible demand of 0.001 MCM in 2022-2024. Asked if these urban-rural disparities were taken into account for the water management plan, the HWRA chairperson said several steps have been introduced specifically for Gurgaon and Panipat. "For example, we have told the two districts to carry out rooftop rainwater harvesting and ensure zero liquid discharge. Industries have been directed to use only treated water. Our teams have been carrying out several surveys and have issued closure notices to more than 80 borewells in Gurgaon and Faridabad. We are also fitting tubewells with telemeters so that we know the consumption of groundwater," Arora said. A growing gap Experts pointed out that even if the integrated water management plan achieves its target, the state would still not be able to meet its water needs in the future. A projection by HWRA estimates that domestic water needs are likely to increase from 1,396.6 MCM currently to 1,467.9 MCM by 2027, a hike of 10.5%.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gurugram: Panel to probe illegal groundwater extraction yet to do inspection
Nearly four weeks after the Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA) formed a three-member committee to inspect 59 real estate developers, manufacturers and ready-mix concrete plants for illegally extracting groundwater, the committee has yet to conduct its inspection. Formed on April 16, the committee comprises Pankaj Mahla, chief hydrologist, HWRA, the district town planning department's enforcement officer, and regional officer of the Haryana pollution control board. It has been given until June 16 to submit its action taken report to HWRA. The 59 firms were issued notices four times previously to halt groundwater extraction without permission. If they fail to get permission within 21 days of the committee's inspection, then the district administration will seal and dismantle their groundwater extraction structures. 'Despite various opportunities, the companies have not sought permission for groundwater extraction and according to the inspection report, they are extracting groundwater illegally. As per the Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority Act, 2020, they are subject to strict action including sealing of groundwater extraction structures besides environmental compensation as per the notification dated 17.03.2022,' said an order issued by Keshni Anand Arora, chairperson, HWRA on April 16. 'A joint committee is hereby constituted which will visit and inspect the premises of these project proponents to establish whether illegal extraction of groundwater is being done and direct them to seek permission for groundwater extraction immediately as per the provisions contained in the HWRA Act, 2020 and serve them show cause personally or affix it on the premises of the respective project proponent,' the order said. HWRA is the primary agency overseeing water management in the state. The HRWA chairperson has ordered district magistrates to cooperate with the committee and provide them with security forces during their inspection. The committee's action report will have to be submitted to the authority by the next hearing on June 16, 2025, the order said. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has declared Gurugram a dark zone due to depleting groundwater levels. According to a CGWA report last year, the groundwater extraction rate in the city is 308%, and use of groundwater in construction is banned. Gurugram has a daily water demand of 870mld (million litres per day) of which 570mld is supplied by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority from canal water, and rest is supplied through groundwater by the public health department, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, and developers in the city.
