To apply for a groundwater NOC for water boring, create an account on the CGWA Bhuneer Portal, complete your user and project profiles, upload technical documents, pay the applicable charges, and submit the application. The Bhuneer Portal replaced the earlier NOCAP system in 2024 for fresh applications.
The NOC requirement for water boring depends on the type of user, groundwater extraction, and area. It generally covers industries, infrastructure and real estate projects, mining units, and bulk commercial users that extract groundwater beyond the applicable limits. Individual domestic and agricultural users are generally exempt and may need approval from the relevant state or local groundwater authority instead.
Key Takeaways
- Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) issues groundwater NOCs through the Bhuneer Portal (cgwa-bhuneer.mowr.gov.in), which replaced NOCAP for fresh applications in 2024.
- The No Objection Certificate (NOC) for groundwater generally applies to industries, infrastructure and real-estate projects, mining, and bulk groundwater users, subject to applicable extraction limits and area-specific rules.
- Individual domestic and agricultural users are generally exempt from CGWA NOC requirements and should check their state or local groundwater authority’s rules.
- Eligible exempt MSMEs may still need to register on the Bhuneer Portal to obtain an Exemption Certificate.
- The application requires user and project details, technical documents such as a hydrogeological report, and applicable fees.
- After approval, NOC holders must meet groundwater monitoring and compliance requirements, including installing the prescribed digital flow meter with telemetry where applicable.
Prerequisites to Get a Water Boring NOC
Before applying, confirm that your project requires a CGWA NOC and keep the applicable documents ready.
Check Whether You Need a NOC
Determine whether your proposed groundwater use falls under a category regulated by CGWA.
- Industries: Factories and industrial units extracting groundwater may require a NOC, subject to applicable limits and area restrictions.
- Infrastructure projects: Construction projects, group housing, and townships may require groundwater approval.
- Mining projects: Mining activities involving groundwater extraction generally require CGWA approval.
- Commercial establishments: Hotels, hospitals, IT parks, and other bulk users may require a NOC.
- Exempt users: Certain domestic users, agricultural users, eligible MSMEs, and other exempt categories may not need a NOC but may need an Exemption Certificate through Bhuneer.
Documents to Keep Ready
Prepare the documents applicable to your project:
- PAN: Applicant or entity PAN for registration.
- Property proof: Ownership document, lease deed, or rent agreement.
- Site plan: Mark the proposed borewell location.
- Project details: Proposed depth, extraction quantity, and purpose of use.
- Technical reports: Hydrogeological, yield, or pumping-test reports, where required.
- Recharge details: Rainwater-harvesting or groundwater-recharge plan, where applicable.
- Project approvals: Relevant environmental, construction, or local approvals, where required.
Tip: Check the current Bhuneer requirements for your project category and location before uploading documents.
What are the Steps to Get a Water Boring NOC through the CGWA Bhuneer Portal?
Follow these steps to obtain a CGWA NOC for water boring:
Step 1: Register on the Bhuneer Portal
Create an account on the CGWA Bhuneer Portal using your mobile number, email address, and PAN. Complete OTP verification and activate your login.
Step 2: Complete the Profile and Select the Application Type
Enter the required details in the applicant and project profile:
- Applicant and organization details
- Project location and land details
- Proposed groundwater requirement
- Abstraction structure details
Then select the applicable application type, such as Fresh NOC, Renewal, Enhancement, Regularization, No Extraction, or Exemption Certificate.
Ensure the information matches your supporting documents before proceeding.
Step 3: Upload the Required Documents
Upload the documents applicable to your project, such as land or property proof, site/layout plan, and rainwater-harvesting/recharge plan. Higher-extraction projects may also require hydrogeological, impact-assessment, or groundwater modelling reports.
Step 4: Calculate and Pay the Applicable Charges
Use the portal’s charges calculator to determine the applicable groundwater charges based on your extraction quantity, user category, and project location.
The applicable amount may include:
- Groundwater abstraction charges
- Water conservation or restoration charges
- Other charges applicable to your application category
Pay the assessed amount through the available online payment facility, including Bharatkosh where applicable. Exempt users may follow different fee requirements.
Step 5: Submit the Application for CGWA scrutiny
Review the application, documents, project details, and payment information before submitting it. CGWA will scrutinize the application and may raise queries or deficiencies through the portal.
Respond within the specified timeline with complete information.
Step 6: Receive the NOC After Approval
Once CGWA completes its technical and regulatory review and accepts the application, download the groundwater NOC from the portal.
At this stage, check the NOC carefully because it will specify the permitted extraction quantity and applicable conditions.
Step 7: Complete the Applicable Post-NOC Conditions
Install the required groundwater monitoring and metering equipment, implement the prescribed rainwater-harvesting/recharge measures, and submit monitoring or abstraction data as required by the NOC.
Conditions vary according to the project, extraction quantity, and assessment-unit status.
Note: A straightforward CGWA NOC application may take around 4–6 weeks to process. Large, technically complex projects or applications involving stressed groundwater areas may take 2–3 months or longer, depending on scrutiny and clarifications required.
Why is a Water Boring NOC Important?
A water boring NOC offers various benefits:
- Provides regulatory approval: Establishes that the proposed groundwater extraction has been approved under the applicable CGWA requirements.
- Supports project approvals: A valid groundwater NOC may be required for certain industrial, infrastructure, construction, and real-estate projects.
- Controls groundwater extraction: The NOC specifies applicable conditions, such as permitted extraction, metering, and groundwater-recharge measures.
- Reduces compliance risk: Operating without required approval can result in penalties, directions to stop extraction, or other regulatory action.
- Supports business continuity: Maintaining the required groundwater approval helps prevent compliance issues from affecting ongoing operations.
- Promotes responsible use: Recharge and monitoring conditions help manage groundwater use and reduce the risk of excessive extraction.
