Groundwater Extraction Permission

Borewell / Open Well / Commercial Water Use

Issuing Authority

  • Central Ground Water Authority (for large / commercial use)
  • Kerala Ground Water Department (for domestic, small-scale, and state approvals)

PART 1: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. Identity & Ownership Documents

  • Aadhaar Card / Voter ID / PAN Card
  • Proof of ownership of land:
    • Sale Deed / Title Deed
    • Possession Certificate
  • Latest Land Tax Receipt

2. Location & Site Details

  • Location Sketch (with survey number)
  • Site Plan showing:
    • Borewell/Open well position
    • Nearby buildings
    • Distance from septic tanks, drains, etc.
  • Google Map / GIS location print (optional but recommended)

3. Water Requirement Details

  • Purpose of extraction:
    • Domestic / Commercial / Industrial / Agriculture
  • Daily water requirement (in liters per day or KLD)
  • Number of users / units (households, flats, business use)

4. Technical Details of Well

  • Type: Borewell / Dug Well
  • Proposed Depth (meters)
  • Diameter of bore
  • Pump details (HP, capacity)

5. Hydrogeological / Technical Report

(Mandatory for commercial / large extraction)

  • Groundwater availability report
  • Prepared by:
    • Approved hydrogeologist OR
    • Government department

6. NOC / Supporting Certificates

  • Local Body NOC (Municipality / Corporation / Panchayat)
  • Pollution Control Board clearance (if industrial use)
  • Building Permit (if part of construction project)

7. Affidavit / Undertaking

  • Declaration stating:
    • No over-extraction
    • No contamination
    • Usage only for declared purpose

8. Photographs

  • Site photographs (before drilling)

PART 2: APPLICATION FORM CONTENT

The application should include:

  • Applicant Name & Address
  • Survey Number & Location
  • Type of well
  • Depth & diameter
  • Purpose of usage
  • Quantity of water required
  • Details of existing wells (if any)

PART 3: STEP-BY-STEP APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP 1: Identify Category

  • Domestic use → Usually simplified permission
  • Commercial / Industrial → Strict approval required
  • Large extraction → Apply via CGWA

STEP 2: Prepare Documents

  • Collect all ownership, technical, and site documents
  • Get hydrogeological report (if required)

STEP 3: Apply to Local Authority

  • Submit application to:
    • Municipality / Corporation / Panchayat
  • Request:
    • Local body NOC

STEP 4: Submit to Groundwater Authority

Option A: Kerala Ground Water Department

  • Submit:
    • Application form
    • All documents
  • Mode:
    • Online (if available) OR
    • Direct office submission

Option B: Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)

(For large-scale / commercial extraction)

  • Apply through:
    • CGWA online portal
  • Upload:
    • Technical reports
    • Water usage details
  • Pay application fee

STEP 5: Site Inspection

  • Officer visits site to verify:
    • Location
    • Feasibility
    • Environmental safety

STEP 6: Technical Evaluation

  • Groundwater availability check
  • Impact on nearby wells
  • Sustainability assessment

STEP 7: Approval / Rejection

  • Permission granted with:
    • Conditions (depth limit, extraction limit)
  • OR rejected if:
    • Over-exploited area
    • Environmental risk

STEP 8: Drilling Permission

  • Only after approval
  • Use registered drilling contractor

STEP 9: Post-Installation Compliance

  • Install:
    • Water meter (for commercial use)
  • Submit completion report
  • Maintain usage records

IMPORTANT CONDITIONS

  • No drilling without permission in notified areas
  • Rainwater harvesting may be mandatory
  • Periodic renewal required
  • Over-extraction penalties applicable

VALIDITY

  • Typically: 1–3 years (depends on usage category)
  • Renewal required before expiry

SAMPLE UNDERTAKING (SHORT FORMAT)

I, [Name], residing at [Address], hereby declare that the groundwater extracted from the proposed well at Survey No. [XX] will be used only for [purpose]. I ensure that extraction will not exceed permitted limits and will not cause environmental damage.

Signature
Date