The Kerala Ground Water Control and Regulation Act, 2002

            (Translation in English of “2002- ലെ കേരള ഭൂജെം (നിയന്ത്രണവ ം 
ന്ത്േമീേരണവ ം  ആക്റ്റ് ”) published under the authority of the Governor)    
    ACT 19 OF 2002 
ANNEXURE VI 
THE KERALA GROUND WATER (CONTROL AND REGULATION) 
ACT, 2002 
AN 
ACT 
To provide for the conservation of ground water and for the regulation and 
control of its extraction and use in the State of Kerala. 
Preamble- Whereas it is expedient to provide for the conservation of 
Ground Water and for the regulation and control of its extraction and use in the 
State of Kerala; 
And Whereas in certain, areas of the State the tendency of indiscriminate 
extraction of Ground Water is continuing; 
And Whereas it is felt that the erratic extraction of ground water is found to 
result in undesired environmental problems in such areas; 
And Whereas the groundwater is a critical resource of the State; 
And Whereas it is considered necessary in the public interest to regulate 
and control any form of development of ground water in State of Kerala; 
Be is enacted in the Fifty-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 
1. Short title, extent and commencement-(1) This Act may be called the 
Kerala Ground Water (Control and Regulation), Act, 2002. 
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Kerala. 
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may 
by notification in the Gazette, appoint:- 
Provided that different dates may be appointed for different areas and for 
different provision of the Act and any reference in any such -provision to the 
commencement of this Act shall be constructed as a reference to the 
commencement of such provision. 
2. Definition- (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, 
(a) “Authority” means “the State Ground Water Authority” constituted 
under subsection (1) of section 3 of this Act; 
(b) “Government” means the Government of Kerala; 
(c) “Ground Water” means the water which exist below the surface of 
the ground at any location or at any particular category of locations; 
(d) “notified area” means the area notified under sub -section (1) of 
section 6 of this Act; 
(e) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 
(f) “pumping well” means a well fitted with-pump driven by an electric 
motor or oil engine for pumping water but does not include open wells fitted with 
pumps driven by engine or motor of Horse Power upto 1.5 and tube wells, 
borewells and dug-cum borewells fitted with pumps driven by engine or motor of 
Horse Power upto 3; 
(g) “digging” with all its grammatical variations and synonyms, includes 
digging or drilling of new wells, putting in pipes or drilling making tunnels or 
increasing depth or diameter of the existing wells; 
(h) “user of ground water” means any person using ground water from a 
pumping well for any purpose including domestic purpose; 
(i) “Well” means any structure made on the surface of earth by any 
person other than officers authorized by State Government or Central Government, 
for the purpose of drawing ground water for search, development, use or 
management of ground water resources and -includes open well, dug well, 
borewell, dug-cum borewell; tube well, storage well, infiltration gallery, but shall 
not include open well or dug well used for domestic purposes. 
3. State Ground Water Authority-(1) The Government shall, by notification 
in the Gazette constitute an authority called the State Ground Water Authority with 
effect from such date as may be specified therein. 
(2) The authority shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession 
and common seal with power subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold 
and dispose of property, both movable and immovable and to enter into contract 
and shall by the name of the Authority sue and be sued. 
(3) The Authority shall consist of the following members, namely:- 
(i) the Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department; 
Ex Officio who shall be Chairman of the Authority; 
(ii) the Secretary to Government, Finance Department; Ex offcio; 
(iii) the secretary to Govt Local Self Government (Rural 
Development) Department Ex-Officio 
(iv) The Director, Ground Water Department; Ex-Offcio, who 
shall be the Secretary of the Authority; 
(v) The following persons nominated by the Government 
(a) two members of the Legislative Assembly 
(b) an expert in Water Resource; 
(c) a member of Grama Panchayat; 
(d) a member of Municipal Council; 
(e) a member belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe; 
(f) a Woman; 
(g) a public man; 
(h) an environmental activist. 
(4) The term of office of the nominated members shall be three years. 
(5) Any nominated member may resign his official at any time by a 
resignation letter addressed to Government. 
Provided that the resignation shall not come into effecting until it is accepted. 
(6) The conditions of the service of the members of the Authority shall  be, 
such as may be prescribed; 
4. Acts not to be invalidated by irregularity, vacancy etc - No act done or 
proceedings taken by the authority shall be invalidated merely on the following 
reasons- 
(a) any vacancy or any defect in the constitution of the authority; or 
(b) any defect or irregularity, in the appointment of a person action as a 
member of the authority. 
5. Officers and staff of the Authority - All officers and other employ ee 
of the Ground Water Department shall, for the purpose of this Act, be considered 
as the officers and staff of the Authority and they shall exercise the powers and 
perform the duties assigned to them from time to time by the Authority in writing: 
Provided that the Government may depute such number of scientists and 
technicians, as it may deem necessary for the purpose of the proper functioning of 
the Authority under this Act or for the proper exercise of the powers under this Act. 
6. Notifying areas for the control and regulation of ground water 
development:-   (1) The Government may, if satisfied on the recommendation of 
the authority, that it is necessary in the public interest to regulate the extraction of 
use of ground water of any area, declare by notification, in the Gazette, such area as 
notified are or the purpose of this Act, with effect from such date as may be 
specified therein. 
(2) Every notification issued under sub-section (1) shall be published in 
the Gazette as well as in two daily newspapers having wide circulation in the said 
areas and a copy of the same shall be exhibited. On the notice board of the office of 
the Grama Panchayat or Municipality, as the case may be and Village Office of the 
said area. 
7. Grant of Permit to extract and use ground water.-(1) Any person desiring 
to dig a well or to convert the existing well into pumping well, for his own or social 
purpose in the notified area, shall submit an application before the Authority for the 
grant of a permit it for the purpose and shall not proceed with any activity 
connected with such digging or convertion unless a permit has been granted by the 
Authority. 
(2) Every application under sub -section (1) shall be in such form and 
shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed: 
(3) The Authority shall acknowledge the receipt of every application in 
the manner as may be prescribed. 
(4) On receipt of an application under sub -section (1) the Authority 
shall, if satisfied that it shall not be against the public interest so to do grant; subject 
to such conditions as may be prescribed permit authorizing to draw ground water or 
reject the application. 
Provided that no person shall be refused a permit without giving an 
opportunity of being heated. 
(5) The decision regarding the grant or refusal of the permit shall be 
communicated to the applicant by the Authority in writing with in ninety days from 
the date of receipt of the application. 
(6) Where the Authority received the application under sub -section (1) 
fails to inform “the applicant” of its decision on the application within ninety days 
from the date of receipt of the application, the permit shall be deemed to have been 
granted to the applicant and such person shall for the purpose of this Act be deemed 
to be a permit holder. 
(7) In granting or refusing the permit the Authority shall consider the 
following matters, namely:- 
(a) the purpose or purposes for which the water is used; 
(b) the other existing users of that locality 
(c) the availability of ground water of that area; 
(d) the quality of ground water in connection with its use; 
(e) the distance of the proposed well with the adjoining well and the 
number of wells in the area and the chance of interfere nce with 
existing wells; 
 
(f) chances of ground water pollution; 
 
(g) the long term nature of ground water level in the area 
(h) any other factors relevant thereto 
8. Registration of the existing wells of the notified area-(1) Every owner of 
the existing wells of the notif ied area in the State shall, within a period of one 
hundred and twenty days from the date of constitution of the Authority, register the 
wells existing and in use and shall apply to the Authority in such form and in such 
manners as may be prescribed for a certificate or registration: 
Provided that If the Authority is satisfied that there are sufficient reasons 
for the applicant for not submitting the application within the said time limit it may 
entertain the application submitted thereafter. 
(2) The details to be furnished in an application under sub -section (1) 
shall contain such particulars and shall be in such manner as may be prescribed. 
(3) On receipt of an application under sub -section (1) the Authority 
shall, if satisfied that it shall not be against the public interest so to do, register the 
well subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed and issue a 
certificate of registration to the applicant or reject the application. 
Provided that no application for registration shall be rejected without 
giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard. 
(4) The decision regarding the grant or refusal of certificate of 
registration shall be communicated to the applicant by the Authority within ninety 
days from the date of receipt of the application. 
(5) The Authority shall consider the following matters before granting 
or rejecting the application for registration of well under sub-section (3) namely:- 
(a) the purpose for which water is used; 
(b) the other existing users of that locality; 
(c) the rate of re-charge of the area of influence of the well; 
(d) the quality of ground water in the location; 
(e) the long term nature of water level of well; 
(f) the other relevant factors. 
(6) The Certificate of registration shall be in the form prescribed. 
(7) Until the Authority intimates the decision regarding grant or 
rejection 
of registration under sub -section (1), every owner of existing well in the notified 
area shall be entitled to the continued use of ground water in the same manner as 
before the date of application. 
(8) In case a registered well becomes unuseful, the owner shall inform the 
matter in writing to the Authority immediately. 
(9) Registration of user of Ground Water- 1 [(1) Every user of ground 
water in the State shall, within such time as may be notified by the 
Government in this behalf, apply to the Authority for registration as a user of 
ground water and for the grant of a certificate of registration] 
 
(2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1) the Authority shall; 
if satisf ied that it shall not be against public interest so to do; grant registration 
subject to the conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, and issue a certificate 
of registration or reject the application: 
Provided that no application for registration shall be rejected without giving 
the applicant an opportunity of being heard. 
(10) Protection of Public drinking water sources :-(1) Nowithstanding 
anything contain in this Act, no person shall without the permission of Authority dig 
well for any purpose within thirty meters from any drinking water source from where 
water is pumped for public purpose. 
Provided that the provision in sub-section (1) shall not apply to the digging of 
a well for any drinking water scheme implemented by the Government or local 
bodies. 
(2) Every application for permission under sub -section (1) shall be in such 
form as may be prescribed and shall be submitted to the Authority with such fees as may 
be fixed. 
(3) On receipt of an application under sub-section (2) and if it is satisfied 
that digging of well shall not adversely affect the public drinking water source, 
permission may, subject to such restrictions and conditions mentioned therein, be 
granted to dig the well for the purpose of drinking water or for agriculture: 
Provided that if the decision of the Authority is not communicated to the 
applicant within ninety days from the date of application permission
 shall be deemed 
to have been granted and the permission so deemed to have beengranted shall be 
subject to the laws in this regard. 
11. Power to make changes to the conditions in the permit or certificate of 
registration- At any time after any permit or certificate of registration has been 
granted, the authority may, after giving the owner an opportunityof being heard, 
make change, amend or modify the condition, in the permit or certificate of registration, 
as the case may be, on technical reasons. 
Provided that before taking such action, the Authority shall ensure that no 
standing crops are damaged by this decision. 
 
 
1.  Substituted by Act 22 of 2005. 
12.        Cancellation of permit or certificate of registration- The Authority may if 
satisfied on receipt of any information on or on the basis of its own studies that,- 
(a) the permit it or certificate of registration under this Act is not based 
on facts; 
(b) the holder of the permit or certificate or registration has, without 
any reasonable cause, failed to comply with the conditions subject to which the 
permit or the certificate of registration has been issued, or has contravened any of 
the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder; or 
(c) a situation has arisen which warrants limiting of the use or extraction of 
ground water in the area around well; 
without prejudice to any other penalty to which the holder of the permit or 
certificate of registration may be subjected to under this Act, and after giving the 
holder of permit or certificate of registration an opportunity of being heard cancel 
the permit certificate of registration. 
13. Grants From State Government. - The Government shall, after due 
appropriation made by the State Legislative by law in this behalf , provide to the 
Ground Water Authority by way of grants such sum of money as it may consider 
necessary for carrying out the purpose of this Act. 
14. Fund of the Grant water Authority .- The Authority shall have a Fund to be 
called The Ground Water Authority Fund and,- 
(a) all sums to money received by the authority by way of grant loan or 
otherwise from the central or state Governments or from Financial Institutions; 
(b) all other sums of money received by, or on behalf of the Authority; 
shall be credited to it. 
(2) The Ground Water Authority Fund shall be utilized for meeting the 
expense of the activities of the Authority. 
15. Powers of Ground Water Authority.- (1) The Authority shall have power.- 
(a) to enter any property and to measure the quantity of water located on 
the surface of earth or under the earth. 
(b) to inspect any well which is dug or being dug and the soil and other 
materials excavated there from; 
(c) to take samples of such soil or other materials or water extracted on 
such wells. 
(d) to enquire, by order in writing the persons digging a well to keep and 
preserve in such manner as may be prescribed, the samples of soil or materials 
extracted from there as directed by the Authority for a period not exceeding three 
months from the date of completion or abandonment of the work; 
(e) to examine and take copies of the relevant records or documents and 
for obtaining and information required for the implementation of the objects of this 
Act, to ask any question on matters including the diameter or depth of the well 
which is dug or being dug, the level at which the water was found out or may be 
found out and subsequently restored or rested, the types of strata encountered in the 
digging of well and the quality of water found out; 
(f) to enquire the user of groundwater to install water measuring 
instrument in any water supply machinery. When it is necessary for the proper use 
of water or there is reason to believe that the user is not complying the provisions 
contained in this Act or to protect public interest. 
(g) to seize the equipments and instruments used for unauthorized 
digging and to destroy partially or completely the work done. 
(h) to require any user of water who does not comply with the 
provisions of this Act and the rules made there under, to stop any water apply or to 
destroy any hydraulic work which is found un authorized as per the provisions of 
this Act and the rules made there under. 
(i) to enter and research any place with suchassistance as is deemed 
necessary, if there is reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been 
committed or is being committed andto order in writing the person, who has 
committed or is committing the offence not to use the ground water for a specified 
period not exceeding thirty days. 
(j) to take necessary steps to present the installation of drainage pipes 
etc. affecting the water source and to prevent depositing of water materials in the 
surface water sources if it is likely to affect the ground water sources;- 
(k) to exercise such other powers that may be necessary for the 
implementation of the objects of this Act or the rules made thereunder. 
(2) The Authority shall perform such functions as may be assigned by 
the Government from time to time in accordance wi h the objective of this Act. 
(3) In case where any user of ground water makes any default in doing 
any act as required by the authority in exercise of the power under sub-section (1), 
the authority shall have power to perform such act directly and or realize the 
expense incurred in that behalf from that person in such manner as may be 
prescribed. 
(4) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 19 73 (Central 
Act 2 of 1974) shall, as far as possible, apply to any search held or seizure made 
under this Act. 
(5) Where the authority seizes any machinery or instruments 
under clause (g) of sub-section (1), it shall as soon as may be within ten day report 
to magistrate and take his order for the custody of the same. 
16. Implementation of orders, etc. - every order under section I shall be 
furnished to the user in such manner as may be prescribed. 
17. Delegation of powers and duties. - The Authority may, by gener  or special 
order in writing, direct that all or any of the powers and duties to be exercised or 
performed by it shall be exercised or performed by such employee of the Authority 
under such circumstances and on such conditions as may be specified therein. 
18. Members and Employees of Ground Water Authority to be public servants.- 
All members and employees of the Authority while acting or purporting to Act 
under the provisions of this Act or any rules made thereunder shall be deemed to be 
public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 
(Central Act 45 of ‘1860); 
19. Protection of action taken in good fail: - No suit prosecution or other legal 
proceedings shall lie against the govt. or authority or any officer of the govt.or any 
member or other employees of the authority for anything which is in good, faith 
done or purported to be done under or in pursuance of this act or the rules made 
there under 
20. Cognizance of offences and Trial. - No court shall take cognizance of any 
offence publishing  under this Act except on a report in writing of the facts 
constituting such offence submitted with the prior permission of the Secretary of 
the Authority. 
21. Penalties.- (1) If any owner or user of a well contravenes any of this 
provisions of this Act of Rules made thereunder or fails to comply with the rules, 
in furnishing any information in the manner prescribed, he shall be punishable. 
(1) with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for the first 
offence; and 
(ii) with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees for the second and 
subsequent offences. 
(2) If for the unauthorized digging or construction or use of wells any 
user of ground water or the owner of a well. 
(a) Contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made 
thereunder of fails to comply with the same; or 
(b) obstructs the Authority or any other person authorized by it 
exercising any of the powers under this Act, he shall be punishable,- 
(i) with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees for first 
offences; and 
(ii) with imprisonment up to six months or a fine which may extend to 
ten thousand rupees for the second or subsequent offences. 
22. Compounding of offences. - The Authority may in such manner as may be 
prescribed, compound any offence under this Act which is liable to be punished 
with a fine not exceeding, two thousand rupees. 
23. Offences by Companies .- If an offence punishable under this Act is 
committed at any time by a company every person who is in charge of and 
responsible to the company for the conduct of its business at the time of the 
commission of the offence and the company shall be deemed to be responsible for 
the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 
Provided that where any offence under this Act has been committed by a 
company and it is proved that t he commission of the offence is with the consent 
and connivance or attributable to any neglect on the part of any Director, manager, 
Secretary of other officer of the company such Director, Manager, Secretary of 
other officers shall be deemed to be responsible for that offence and shall be liable 
to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 
Explanation.- For the purpose of this section,- 
(a) ‘Company’ means any body  corporate and includes a firm or other 
association or individuals; and 
(b) ‘Director’ in relation to a firm means the partner in the firm 
24. Appeals.- (1) Any person aggrieved by the decision or action of the 
Authority under this Act may, within thirty days from  the date on which such 
action is taken or the date of communication of that decision to him, and remitting 
such fees as may be determined, prefer an appeal to such Authority as may be 
prescribed. 
Provided that the Appellate Authority may entertain an appe al preferred 
after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant 
has sufficient caus es for not filling the appeal in time. 
(2) Or receipt of an appeal under sub -section (1) the Appellant Authority 
shall dispose of the appeal as early as possible after giving the appellant a 
reasonable opportunity of being heard. 
25. Accounts and Audit. - (1) The Authority shall maintain true and proper 
accounts and other relevant records and prepare and annual statement and a 
balance sheet containing accounts of income and expenditure in such form and in 
such manner as may be prescribed. 
(2) The accounts of the Authority shall be inspected and audited in 
accordance with the provisions of the Kerala Local Fund Audit Act, 1994 (14 of 
1994) 
(3) The accounts of the Authority as audited and certifies together with 
the audit report there on shall be forwarded annually to the Government and the 
Government shall, as early as possible cause the same to be laid before the 
Legislative Assembly. 
26. Removal of difficulties .- (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the 
provisions of this Act, the Governments, may by order do anything not inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act, which appear to the necessary for the purpo se of 
removing the difficulty. 
Provided that Government shall not issue any order under this sub section 
after the expiry of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. 
(2) Every order issued under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be 
after it is made, before the Legislative Assembly while it is in session for a total 
period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two 
successive session and if before the expiry of the session in which it is no laid or the 
session immediately following the Legislative Assembly make any modification in 
the order or decides that the order should not be issued the order shall thereafter 
have effect only in such modifies form or be of no effect as the case may be, so 
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the 
validity of anything previously done under that order. 
27. Power to make rules. - (1) The Government may, be notification in the 
Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing 
power such rules may provide for the following matters, namely:- 
(a) service conditions of the members of the Authority 
(b) procedure for convening meeting of the Authority and other matters 
ancillary thereto 
(c) power and functions of the Secretary of the Authority 
(d) duties and service conditions of the staff of the Authority 
(e) any other manner of issuing notification under sub-section (3) of 
section 6; 
(f) format of application form permit and the certificate or registration 
under various sections of this Act: 
(g) mode of keeping and maintaining samples of soil and other materials 
as per clause (d) of sub section (1) of section 15; 
(h) for specifying the Appellate Authority and the fee payable along 
with the appeal memorandum under sub-section (1) of section; 
(i) any other matter which is required to be or may be prescribed. 
       (3)       Every rule made under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be 
after it is made, before the Legislative Assembly, while it is in session, for a total 
 
period of fifteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive 
sessions and if before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session 
immediately following, the Legislative Assembly makes any modification in the 
rule or decides that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect 
only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case may be; so, however, that 
any such modification or annu lment shall be without prejudice to the validity of 
any thing previously done under that rule. 
The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed this Bill on the Ist day of August 
2002. 

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