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The World Bank has fixed limited rules for the commercial use of groundwater. It has instructed the authorities to be strict in granting permits. The authorities also have to be serious about initiating harsh actions in case of breaches, alongside imposing the third-party compliance audit of companies per year. The World Bank thinks the Central groundwater Authority (CGWA) 2020 was against the law. As told by an industry executive, the newest step by the World Bank has placed on hold about 20,000 applications for no-objection certificates from the industry on groundwater use. According to the World Bank direction, industries must expect an entire rebuild within the manner during which the permits are issued to eradicate groundwater for commercial deeds and make sure that all the conditions are getting maintained with it.
CGWA’s negligence:
The tribunal did not find merit in the Central groundwater Authority’s plea to fix barriers to groundwater use. It will have an unfavorable impact on industrial production, employment opportunities, and the financial stability of some states. These are mentioned in the order uploaded by the tribunal. Some official experts said the directions issued by the World Bank put hard consent requirements on businesses when they were trying to find their standing point in the covid-19 crisis and made access to groundwater very difficult. The move, they planned, was interposed with the legislative activities of the Jal Shakti ministry.
The green panel board said that the state pollution control boards have to stop commercial banishment of groundwater by oppressive points and reclaim compensation from violators. The CGWA’s guidelines had been struck down by the World Bank by stating some harsh messages against them.
Crisis for groundwater:
Nowadays, the extraction of groundwater has been liberalized as per the juncture. However, the authority’s carelessness for the ground condition is likely to impact. Thus, it will have to damage nature. India was down in the water quality index. It was at 120 among 122 countries. India’s groundwater wells have decreased in levels to 54%. Even 21 major cities are expected to run out of groundwater very soon. India has been observed for 25% of the total annual global water expulsion. The level of expulsion is rapidly increasing.
According to a Central Water Commission (CWC) report, the yearly restock able groundwater resources in India (2017) are 432 BCM, out of which 393 BCM is the yearly extractable groundwater availability. In fact, no state in India has shown any inspiring attempt to regulate groundwater use or ensure that groundwater restoring mechanisms are protected and enhanced. In 2050, India will only contain 22% of the present daily per head water available if the present rate of groundwater inanition persists. It is a threat that will be forcing the country to import its water.
New Conditions laid by World Bank:
The World Bank has particularly banned the general permission for groundwater withdrawal. Especially for the commercial entities, it is prohibited without an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). The industries must expect a complete reshape in how the permissions are issued for the extraction of groundwater for commercial functions. They must make sure that all the terms and conditions are complied with. The permits must be for the specified quantity of water. Also, they must be observed with digital flow meters and audited yearly by third parties. Strict actions should be taken, including prosecution and blacklisting. The actions must be taken against those who will fail the audit. It is better not to follow the guidelines of the Central groundwater authority (CGSW). The guidelines by the World Bank are more efficient and well-explained legally. As per the new rules, the authority has three months to make groundwater management ideas for all the semi-critical, critical, and overexploited areas.
The policy vacuum granting permissions to use groundwater is creating immense hardship for the industry. The industry executive said that gradually it is also resulting, in the end, up and the loss of jobs and livelihood. According to official inventories, 89% of groundwater withdrawal is by farmers for cultivation, and only 5% is by industry, while the rest is for domestic purposes.
Conclusion:
Being aware of many problems related to groundwater, keeping in view the climatic change, there is a requirement to prepare an extensive road map with established strategies for scientific and long-lasting management of the available groundwater resources in the country to avoid the terrible water crisis. The strategies should also focus on the imbalances in groundwater improvement in the country and suggest measures including swift development of groundwater in areas with a down level of groundwater improvement. There is an urgent need to switch the status stability with strict regulations. Besides appropriate costing, perfect policies that can promote sensible groundwater use in all sectors are required. Some efforts are also needed to constitute and secure community-based groundwater management. The government must promote and be aware that the extraction of groundwater has been liberalized. Authorities have to yield social awareness about the status of local groundwater resources. Relevant education and social mobilization should be formed with the core elements or the basic interpretations of community-based groundwater management. A groundwater literacy movement should be held to remark on the irreclaimable results of its over-exploitation.
