AIZAWL: With the implementation of the Mizoram Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Act 2023 and the Mizoram Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Rules, 2024, any household or person seeking extraction of ground water will now require permission from the government, a minister said on Wednesday.
Public Health Engineering minister Prof. Lalnilawma told a news conference that the Mizoram Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Bill 2023 was legislated by the state legislature in August last year to control and regulate the development and management of groundwater in the state.
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The act, which is the first of its kind in the state, also seeks to regulate equal distribution of groundwater and meaningful management by the public as excessive use of groundwater may lead to subsidence of land.
The Mizoram Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Act 2023 came into effect on 18 September, 2023, while Mizoram Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Rules, 2024 was notified on 10 July this year.
Under the act, the government formed Mizoram state ground water authority to control and regulate the development and management of ground water in the state.
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Lalnilawma said that any person seeking extraction of groundwater for domestic or commercial or industrial use will have to apply for permission from Mizoram ground water authority or district administration from now on.
He said that existing users of groundwater or boreholes and persons possessing drilling rigs and others will also have to be registered under the government.
The minister said that the government would inspect the existing groundwater extractions or boreholes or borewells and such facilities may be cancelled depending on the equifer if the area contains less groundwater.
He said that every permit and certificate granted for extraction of groundwater will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue or till such time public water supply is provided to the household, whichever is earlier.
Any person failing to comply with any provision of the act or any rules made under the act will be punished with a fine of Rs. 5,000, which may extend up to Rs 1 lakh in the first offence, Rs 1 lakh or six month imprisonment or both in the second offence and Rs 2.05 lakh or six imprisonment or both in the third offence, Lalnilawma said.