Patna: The Bihar government is preparing to establish a dedicated regulatory framework to curb indiscriminate groundwater extraction and manage the state’s groundwater resources. The Minor Water Resources Department has drafted the Groundwater (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2026 and invited suggestions and objections from the public, experts and other stakeholders.
The draft proposes a three-tier institutional structure, with groundwater management authorities at the state, district and block levels.
The draft has been released by Er Shashi Bhushan Chaudhary, Chief Engineer (Planning, Monitoring and Groundwater), Minor Water Resources Department.
State authority to oversee groundwater policy
At the headquarters level, the proposed authority will be chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Minor Water Resources Department.
Its members will include the Engineer-in-Chief and state-level officials from the departments of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Agriculture; Industries; Mines and Geology; Urban Development; and Rural Development.
The district-level authority will be headed by the respective District Magistrate, while the Executive Engineer of the Minor Irrigation Division will serve as its Member-Secretary.
Technical officers from other departments and groundwater-management experts will also be included.
The district authorities are proposed to be constituted within three months of the formation of the state-level authority. Block-level authorities would then be established within another three months.
Permission proposed for groundwater extraction
Under the draft framework, permission would be required for groundwater extraction in districts.
The district-level authority would be responsible for integrating groundwater conservation plans, overseeing their implementation and monitoring progress. It would also prepare review reports and recommend corrective measures where deficiencies are identified.
The authority would additionally conduct public awareness programmes, issue recommendations and grant No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater extraction within its jurisdiction.
Maintaining groundwater levels and ensuring water quality would also fall within its responsibilities.
Block authorities to register groundwater users
The proposed block-level authorities would be responsible for registering existing and new groundwater users for domestic and agricultural purposes.
The draft also proposes mandatory registration for commercial, industrial, mining and bulk groundwater users.
Among the proposed powers of the authorities are:
- Restricting construction of new borewells and wells.
- Declaring areas as notified areas for groundwater use.
- Levying charges for groundwater extraction.
- Approving groundwater extraction in notified and non-notified areas as well as wetlands.
- Adjudicating cases involving violations of groundwater regulations.
Why the government wants regulation
The draft identifies indiscriminate boring and excessive use of submersible pumps as factors contributing to falling groundwater levels in several areas.
It also highlights the arbitrary exploitation of groundwater and the challenge of meeting future water requirements amid growing scarcity.
Climate change and deficient rainfall have further increased concerns over the availability and sustainability of groundwater resources.
The proposed legislation is intended to create a structured mechanism for regulating extraction while strengthening groundwater conservation and monitoring across Bihar.
