Sustainable groundwater development depends upon the understanding of the processes in the aquifer system, quantitative and qualitative monitoring of the resource and inter-relation with land-use and surface water management . The key components of sustainable strategies are:

· Long term conservation of Groundwater resources
· Protection of Groundwater quality
· Consideration of environment impact of Groundwater development

The organizations overseeing the groundwater development should possess the expertise for cost effective data collection and evaluation of development schemes. Stress on proper land use planning and regulation on groundwater exploitation must be exercised.

Recognizing the need for regulation and development of groundwater resource in sustainable manner Govt. of India has constituted an authority titled Central Ground Water Authority.

Central Ground Water Authority

The authority was constituted on 14th Jan,1997 under the direction of Hon'ble Supreme Court. The term of the authority, which was initially for one year was extended for further five years vide Notification dated 13.01.1998.

As per notification, Central Ground Water Board was constituted as an Authority for the purposes of regulation and control of groundwater management and development. The following powers were given to the Authority to perform following functions -

· Exercise powers under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act 1986 for issuing direction and taking such measures in respect of all the matters referred- to in subsection (2) of section 3 of the said Act.

· To resort to the penal provisions contained in section15 to 21 of the said Act.

· To regulate indiscriminate boring and withdrawal of groundwater in the country and to issue necessary regulatory directions with a view to preserve and protect the groundwater.

As per the notification, the Authority shall function under the administrative control of the Govt. of India in the Ministry of Water Resources with its Headquarter at Delhi. The jurisdiction of the Authority shall be whole of India..

After its constitution in 1977, the Authority has considered following issues which required immediate regulatory measures

· Conserve groundwater resources and ensure its proper use

· Control groundwater over-drawl in critical areas

· Augment resources in areas of over-exploitation

· Achieve statutory quality standards for groundwater set up by BIS and ICMR

· Control discharge to groundwater system

· Close alliance with State Govt. to constitute State Groundwater Authority

· Educate public with regard to the adverse effects of decline in water levels and pollution in of groundwater through mass awareness programs

Actions Points for protection of groundwater

· Mapping of vulnerable areas of groundwater depletion and pollution

· Notification of critical areas of groundwater depletion and pollution

· Notification for banning commercial selling of groundwater

· Special studies on areas of high concentration carcinogenic element in groundwater

· Directives to industries / mining / commercial establishments for regulation of over with-drawl of groundwater

· Environmental impact study for groundwater in identified areas

· Campaigns to create public awareness for judicious use and conservation of groundwater