Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 14: With Karnataka witnessing a steep dip in groundwater levels due to rampant and unregulated extraction, the Directorate of Groundwater and Karnataka Groundwater Authority (GDKGA) has stepped up its vigilance. In a renewed move to enforce regulation, the authority has reissued an advisory to all departments across the state—mandating prior permission for drilling borewells and using groundwater, especially for construction and commercial activities.
Officials have stressed that any application for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) or Occupancy Certificate must now include clearance from the GDKGA. Despite this stipulation, many buildings and industries continue to bypass the rule, leading to overexploitation.
Representational images
According to GDKGA records, since its inception in 2019, only 205 NOCs have been granted in Bengaluru, covering a mix of industrial, residential, and commercial setups. However, more than 400 notices have been issued to violators who failed to seek the authority’s nod for groundwater usage. In the current financial year (2024-25), the department has approved 942 borewells.
Ambika, Deputy Director of GDKGA, Bengaluru City, revealed that a large chunk of applicants remains unaware of the rules. “While individual homeowners must approach BWSSB for borewell permission, large establishments are required to obtain separate approval from the authority, which is often overlooked,” she said.
Another senior official pointed out a major loophole. “Even 20% of the ongoing projects in Bengaluru have not sought our permission. BWSSB is granting online approvals independently without involving GDKGA,” the official stated, underlining the urgency of curbing indiscriminate drilling as water levels plummet.
To address the issue, a sub-committee has been formed comprising representatives from BBMP, BWSSB, and GDKGA, which will scrutinize all large-scale construction proposals—excluding individual houses and domestic use. “However, a lack of awareness means that many stakeholders are unaware of our involvement,” the official added.
So far, two warning notices have been issued to non-compliant organizations. “A third notice, which could result in cutting essential services, is not being pursued, as the government is cautious about disrupting basic needs like water and electricity,” an officer confirmed.
Rajendra, Director of GDKGA, emphasized the importance of coordination. “We're urging all departments to include us in the permission process. The groundwater situation is deteriorating, and natural replenishment is not keeping pace,” he said.
He further clarified that BWSSB handles approvals for individual homes, while the GDKGA is responsible for overseeing groundwater usage in apartments, commercial buildings, industries, and other non-domestic categories. Responding to this, BWSSB Engineer-in-Chief Suresh B said an online system and a joint sub-committee have already been put in place for streamlined processing.
R Babu, a retired official from the Department of Mines and Geology and now an advisor to the Central Ground Water Board, also weighed in. “There is an urgent need for proper coordination among departments to manage this growing water crisis,” he said.
As Karnataka faces a looming water shortage, experts stress that strict enforcement of rules and inter-departmental coordination are the only way forward to ensure sustainable water management.