CHANDIGARH: Punjab Water Regulation & Development Authority (PWRDA) issued directions for the extraction and conservation of groundwater and the same was notified on 1st February 2023. With the coming into force of the directions, all non-exempt users who are extracting groundwater shall have to pay groundwater extraction charges (GEC) w.e.f. 1st February, 2023. Even those users who have not installed a water meter shall have to pay these charges. For details the PWRDA website https://pwrda.punjab.gov.in. can be accessed.
An Official spokesperson said that existing users extracting more than 1, 500 and up to 15, 000 cubic meters per month were given a grace period of 6 months to apply for permission from the Authority and to install water meters. Earlier the last date to apply for permission was 31st July, 2023, which was extended to 30th September, 2023.
On request of the Users, the last date to apply for permission has been further extended to 30th November, 2023. Users should apply in time to avoid non-compliance charges.
The spokesperson said that users are advised to install meters at the earliest and pay the monthly bill by taking the water meter reading themselves. In case a user does not install a water meter, the user shall have to pay the monthly bill for the full volume of groundwater extraction permission sought for the entire period from 1st February 2023 up to the date of installation of the water meter.
Accordingly, it is in the interest of each user to install water meters at the earliest. The Users shall pay the GEC from 1st February 2023 till the grant of permission by the Authority. Subsequently, the monthly GEC shall be paid as per the terms and conditions of the permission granted by the Authority.
The Extraction of groundwater without applying for permission by the directions within the stipulated period shall attract imposition of groundwater compensation charges (GCC) in addition to other Non-Compliance Charges. Users must apply in time to avoid Non-Compliance Charges. The GCC shall be calculated slab-wise on the daily volume of water extracted in contravention of the directions for each day of contravention.
PWRDA has launched an Online Permission Portal for granting permissions for Groundwater Extraction to simplify the process of obtaining permissions. To apply for online permission, users may visit https://pwrda.punjab.gov.in/Users. For a step-wise guide, access the user manual at https://pwrda.punjab.gov.in/en/noticeboard/3. All groundwater charges can be paid online by using Net Banking, Debit/ Credit Card, UPI, etc.
Users are advised to apply on time by 30th November 2023 for permission to extract groundwater and pay GEC from 1st February 2023 onwards.