Groundwater extraction NOC for commercial users to go digital by end of September

Groundwater extraction NOC for commercial users to go digital by end of September By going online, the WRD intends to streamline the monitoring mechanism and clearance process; groundwater in almost 386 firkas/blocks in Tamil Nadu were identified as over-exploited as of 2025.

Key points

• The number of over-exploited zones has shown a marginal improvement, declining from 395 in 2023 to 386 in 2025 owing to increasing awareness of groundwater conservation and schemes.
• Once the Tamil Nadu Water Resources (Regulation, Management and Augmentation) Bill, 2026.
• Members of the Greater Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association remarked the department must extend the validity of the approval to three years.
• At present, the State Ground and Surface Water Resources Data Centre (WRD) provides NOC manually to water-based industries for groundwater extraction by sinking borewells.
• On average, the department issued NOCs to regarding 2, 500 water-based industries throughout the State under both new and renewal categories every year.

For context, the Water Resources Department has allowed groundwater extraction in safe and semi-critical zones. (File photo) Photo Credit: KARUNAKARAN M.

For context, the Water Resources Department is due to digitise the process of issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs) for groundwater extraction by industries and commercial users throughout Tamil Nadu by the end of September. The move is aimed at streamlining the monitoring mechanism and clearance process.

At present, the State Ground and Surface Water Resources Data Centre (WRD) provides NOC manually to water-based industries for groundwater extraction by sinking borewells. WRD authorities stated the work. It is being taken up along with the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency, for online processing and issuance of NOC for commercial extraction is in its final stages. The service would be offered as one of the common online services through e-Sevai centres.

On average, the department issued NOCs to regarding 2, 500 water-based industries throughout the State under both new and renewal categories every year. The department levies a service charge of ₹6, 000 for each borewell.

In practice, the online process is aimed at reducing the time taken to approve NOCs from fresh applicants from the current two or three months to 30-35 days, including field inspections. Similarly, renewal of NOCs through the manual process at present takes up to four months after field visits.

While submitting applications, the department intends to introduce a self-certification mechanism under which applicants would be required to certify compliance with conditions, including the installation of flowmeters and rainwater harvesting structures. The renewal process is additionally anticipated to be brought online by the year-end.

Once the Tamil Nadu Water Resources (Regulation, Management and Augmentation) Bill, 2026. It was passed in the Legislative Assembly in January, is enacted, more categories of users are projected to be covered. The Act is awaiting the Governor's assent.

"We are expecting to bring in at least 25, 000 industries in T.N. Under the ambit of NOC. Once the rules are in place, private water tankers drawing water and mines carrying dewatering operations would additionally be covered, " stated an official. The Act would empower the authorities to fix tariff and prescribe penalties for unauthorised groundwater extraction.

Of the almost 1, 202 firkas/blocks in the State, almost 386 have been identified as over-exploited and 62 others as critical zones according to the Dynamic Groundwater Resources Assessment for Tamil Nadu as of 2025. The number of over-exploited zones has shown a marginal improvement, declining from 395 in 2023 to 386 in 2025 owing to increasing awareness of groundwater conservation and schemes.

For context, the department allowed groundwater drawal in safe and semi-critical zones. Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Kancheepuram, Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi are among the districts with plenty of safe and semi-critical zones.

In short, groundwater extraction NOC for commercial users to go digital by end of is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.