Prohibition to sink well and extraction of groundwater without permit in Chennai

The Chennai Metropolitan Area Groundwater (Regulation) Act 1987

Tamil Nadu local laws

“sink” with all its grammatical variations and cognate expressions includes digging, drilling, boring or deepening;

“groundwater” means the water which exists below the surface of the ground;

“well” means a well sunk for the purpose of searching or extracting groundwater and includes an open well, dug well, borewell, dug-cum-bore well, tube well, filter point or any contrivance which when installed, could be utilised for extracting groundwater.

Contravention of the law is offensive:

If any person contravenes or fails to comply with, any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made under this Act or of the terms, conditions and restrictions, subject to which the permit or licence has been granted, he shall be punished for the first offence with fine which may extend to [two thousand rupees and for the second or any subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to [five thousand rupees], or with both. Any offence punishable under this Act shall be a cognizable offence within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1974 (Central Act 2 of 1974).

Sec 3. Grant of permit to sink well in the scheduled area

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no person shall sink a well in the scheduled area unless he has obtained a permit in this behalf from the competent authority.

(2) Any person desiring to sink a well in the scheduled area shall apply to the competent authority for the grant of a permit for this purpose and shall not proceed with any activity connected with such sinking unless a permit has been granted by the competent authority.

(3) Every application made under sub-section (2) shall be in such form and contain such particulars as may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by such fee not exceeding two hundred and fifty rupees as may be prescribed.

(4) On receipt of an application under sub-section (2), if the competent authority is satisfied that it shall be in the public interest so to do, it may-

(a) grant, subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be specified, a permit authorising the sinking of well:

Provided that the competent authority, while granting the permit may, after having regard to the hydro-geological conditions, water table conditions, groundwater potential and yield of the aquifer, restrict the depth of the well; or

(b) refuse to grant a permit:

Provided that no permit shall be refused unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard.

(5) The decision regarding the grant or refusal to grant the permit shall be intimated by the competent authority to the applicant within such period as may be prescribed.

(6) In granting or refusing to grant permit under sub-section (4), the competent authority shall have regard to the following matters, namely:-

(a) the purpose or purposes for which the well is to be sunk;

(b) the existence of other competitive users;

(d) the availability of groundwater;

(e) the existence of other sources of water other than wells compatibility;

(f) the compatibility with the existing water resources;

(g) the factors that affect, control or prevent pollution;

(h) the possibility for rain water harvesting and conservation;

(i) such other matter as may be prescribed.

(7) The permit shall be in such form as may be prescribed.

Sec 5- Licence for extraction, use or transport of groundwater

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force and subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2) to (7), on and from the date of commencement of this Act,-

(a) no person shall extract or use groundwater in the scheduled area for any purpose other than domestic purposes;

(b) no person shall transport groundwater by means of any lorry, trailer or any other goods vehicle.

(2) If any person desires to,-

(i) extract or use groundwater in the scheduled area for any purpose other than domestic purposes; or

(ii) transport groundwater by means of any lorry, trailer or any other goods vehicle,

then, he shall make an application to the competent authority for the grant of a licence for such extraction, use or transport.

(3) Every application under sub-section (2) shall be made in such form and in such manner and within such period and shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed [and shall be accompanied by such fee not exceeding five thousand rupees as may be prescribed.

(4) On receipt of an-application under sub-section (2), if the competent authority is satisfied that it shall be in the public interest so to do, it may-

(a) grant, on payment of such fees as may be prescribed and subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be specified, a licence authorising-

(i) the extraction or use of groundwater for any purpose other than domestic purposes; or

(ii) the transport of groundwater by means of lorry, trailer or any other goods vehicle; or

(b) refuse to grant a licence:

Provided that no person shall be refused a licence unless he has been given an opportunity of being heard:

Provided further that where the competent authority to whom an application is made under sub-section (2), fails to inform the applicant of its decision on the application within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of such application, the licence shall be deemed to have been granted to the applicant and such person shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be a holder of a licence.

(5) In granting or refusing a licence under this section, the competent authority shall have regard to-

(a) the purpose or purposes for which groundwater is to be used;

(b) the existence of other competitive users;

(d) the effect on other sources of water supply;

(e) the compatibility with the existing water supply system;

(f) the availability of factors controlling or preventing pollution;

(g) the quality of groundwater;

(h) the objection from local residents against commercial extraction;

(i) the availability of factors contributing to or causing pollution;

(j) the measures taken for conservation of groundwater and harvesting of rainwater and their maintenance;

(k) such other matter as may be prescribed.

(6) The licence shall be in such form as may be prescribed.

(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) to (6)-

(i) every person extracting or using groundwater in the scheduled area for any purpose other than domestic purposes; or

(ii) every person transporting or using groundwater by means of any lorry, trailer or any other goods vehicle, immediately before the date of the commencement of this Act, may continue to extract, use or transport groundwater for a period not exceeding ninety days from the said date:

Provided that such person has applied for a licence therefor under this section within a period of fifteen days from the said date.

Explanation. – For the purposes of this section, the expression “goods vehicle” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in section 2(8) of the Now Motor Vehicles Act, 1939.

Application for sinking well in the scheduled area under section 3(2) of the Chennai]metropolitan area groundwater (regulation) act, 1987

1.	(i)	Name of applicant
	(ii)	Age in years
	(iii)	Father’s/ Husband’s name
	(iv)	Full address
2.	Name of owner of land on which well is proposed to be sunk, if the applicant himself is not the owner of the land Address
3.	Place of sinking well T.S./ R.S. No.
	Viliage/ Town/ Division Number and name
	Taluk
	District
4.	Purpose for which well is to be sunk.		Domestic/ Hotel/ Industry/ Construction/ Irrigation/ Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Commercial/ other use.
5.	Type of well proposed		Dug-well/ Dug-cum-Bore well/ Bore-well/ Open-Well/ Tube-well.
6.	Details of the proposed well
	(a)	Diameter of well	………………………… m
	(b)	Depth of well	………………………… m
	(in the case of dug-cum-bore-well, give details of both the open and bore well).
7.	Whether the consent of the owner of the land is enclosed.

Declaration

I, …………………………… hereby declare that the above particulars are true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature of the applicant with date.

Note. – (1) Incomplete applications and applications not received in the prescribed form are liable to be summarily rejected.

(2) Court-fee stamp for the value of Rs. 1 shall be affixed on each application.

(3) The consent of the owner of the land (if such owner is not the applicant) should invariably accompany the application.

(4) Permit will be issued, if approved by the competent authority within a period of 90 days from the date of receipt of the application, on payment of the prescribed fee.

Scheduled area

The law shall be applicable to the following areas

S.No.	Name of the village	Village number	Taluk
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
1.	Vallur	42	Ponneri
2	Manopuram	107	Do
3.	Lingapaiyanpettai	158	Do
4.	Kalapakkam	51	Do
5.	Kattupalli	92	Do
6.	Ariyanuvoyal	49	Do
7.	Minjur	50	Do
8.	Nallore	54	Do
9.	Thottakadu	52	Do
10.	Thiruvallivoyal	105	Do
11.	Anuppampattu	81	Do
12.	Vannipakkam	56	Do
13.	Marathur	89	Do
14.	Lakshmipuram	157	Do
15.	Peruvoyal	146	Do
16.	Puduvoyal	122	Do
17.	Narashunpettai	35	Do
18.	Valudalambedu	39	Do
19.	Nayar	34	Do
20.	Seemapuram	41	Do
21.	Madiyoor	40	Do
22.	Lingasamudram.	109	Do
23.	Sivapuram	110	Do
24.	Pulikulam	82	Do
25.	Murichambedu	55	Do
26.	Kumarasiralapakkam	84	Do
27.	Devadanam	83	Do
28.	Velampakkam	53	Do
29.	Siruvelur Kanniambakkam Kolatti	86	Do
30.	Kanniambakkam	85	Do
31.	Kolatti	47	Do
32.	Nandhiyambakkam	46	Do
33.	Athipattu	43	Do
34.	Velur	87	Do
35.	Kadamancheri	88	Do
36.	Voyalur	91	Do
37.	Ennore	44	Do
38.	Thirukandalam	76	Thiruvcllore
39.	Akkaraipakkam	57	Do
40.	Neyveli	77	Do
41.	Anathanakkavakkam	64	Do
42.	Panjetty	68	Do
43.	Chinnamhedu	127	Ponneri
44.	Nalliankuppam	128	Do
45.	Arni	129	Do
46.	Doramallore	122	Do
47.	Vadakkunallore	124	Do
4%.	Pondavakkam	131	Do
49.	Sevithupanapakkam	125	Do
50.	Nekkunram	31	Do
51.	Vichoor	13	Do
52.	Sekkancheri	30	Do
53.	Gangaiyad Kuppam	58	Do
54.	Thirunilai	15	Do
55.	Vellivoyal	12	Do
56.	Thirunilai	58	Thiruvellore
57.	Amudanallur	59	Do
58.	Kadanallur	59	Do
59.	Koovampakkam	60	Do
60.	Manjankaranai	62	Do
61.	Madavilagam	65	Do
62.	Kattupakkam	63	Do
63.	Madavaram	130	Do
64.	Kilatneni	312	Do
65.	Adarabakkam	309	Do
66.	Natham	313	Do
67.	Ernavakkam	311	Do
68.	Bandikayanur	310	Do
69.	Savundapuram	126	Do
70.	Peravallur	120	Do
71.	Panjetti	70	Do
72.	Alingivakkam	65	Do
73.	Vairavarnkuppam	121	Do
74.	Andarkuppam	74	Do
75.	Periyanjeri	75	Do
76.	Madavaram	73	Do
77.	Tachur	71	Do
78.	Chellapillaiarkuppam	69	Do
79.	Neduvarambakkam	67	Do
80.	Sennivakkam	72	Do
81.	Attipedu	66	Do
82.	Erulupattu	64	Do
83.	Sayanvaram	76	Do
84.	Vadakkupattu	77	Do
85.	Amur	78	Do
86.	Ponneri	116	Do
87.	Elanambedin	80	Do
88.	Atreyamangalam	79	Do
89.	Anuppampattu	81	Do
90.	Kilampakkam	78C	Thiruvellore
91.	Athangigavanoor	81	Do
92.	Vengal	90	Do
93.	Arumbakkam	139	Do
94.	Vadamadurai	80	Do
95.	Othikkadu	160	Do
96.	Perumudivakkam	75	Do
97.	Kadirvedu	91	Do
98.	Thalakkancheri	164D	Do
99.	Chittathur	158	Do
100.	Karikalavakkam	144	Do
101.	Gomugambedu	85A	Do
102.	Guruvoyal	73	Do
103.	Sethupakkam	83	Do
104.	Magaral	84	Do
105.	Tamaraipakkam	85	Do
106.	Agaram	82	Do
107.	Pagalmedu	88	Do
108.	Perathur	145	Do
109.	Melanoor	137	Do
110.	Panapakkam	55	Do
111.	Melakandiyoor	147	Do
112.	Ikkadu	159	Do
113.	Sembedu	93	Do
114.	Chittambakkam	Do	136
115.	Punnapakkam	161	Do
116.	Kalyanakuppam	167	Do
117.	Veeraragha vapuram	145 A	Do
118.	Thandalam	156	Do
119.	Kizhanoor	138	Do
120.	Thirukkancheri	140	Do
121.	Vishnu vakkam	143	Do
122.	Vilampakkam	142	Do
123.	Vadathur	146	Do
124.	Velliyur	92	Do
125.	Punnapakkam	87	Do
126.	Alapakkam	78	Do
127.	Kerani	72	Do
128.	Alingivakkam	74	Do
129.	Karani	74	Do
130.	Kottivakkam	141	Saidapet
131.	Palavakkam	142	Do
132.	Neelankarai	145	Do
133.	Injambakkam	146	Do
134.	Sholinganallur	189	Do
135.	Uthandi	191	Do
136.	Karapakkam (East of B. Canal)	147	Do
137.	Oggiamthorapakkam (East of B. Canal)	148	Do
138.	Palikkaranai (East of B. Canal)	149	Do
139.	Aladu	111	Ponneri
140.	Ramanjeri	118	Thiruvellore
141.	Karamainizambath	119	Do
142.	Kunnavalam	120	Do
143.	Poondi	125	Do
144.	Movur	127	Do
145.	Neyveli	128	Do
146.	Ramathandalam	131	Do
147.	Siyancheri	132	Do
148.	Erayur	133	Do
149.	Meyyur	134	Do
150.	Mortnavedi	Do	135
151.	Thohikalai	153	Do
152.	Ayalur	154	Do
153.	Kilambakkam	155	Do
154.	Pullarampakkm	162	Do
155.	Perumbakkam	163	Do
156.	Thiruppasur	165	Do
157.	Pandur	166	Do
158.	Kanagavallipuram	167	Do
159.	Pattaraiperamhudur	168	Do
160.	Melvilagam	169	Do
161.	Kilvilagam	170	Do
162.	Kallganur	171	Do
163.	Vidayur	172	Do
164.	Nemiliagaram	173	Thiruvellore
165.	Athupakkam	174	Do
166.	Karanai	175	Do
167.	Palliarakuppam	176	Do
168.	Pirayankuppam	177	Do
169.	Venmanamhudur	178	Do
170.	Kadambathur	179	Do
171.	Egathur	180	Do
172.	Selai	181	Do
173.	Pirayankuppam	182	Do
174.	Kakkalakalur	183	Do
175.	Thanneerkulam	184	Do
176.	Puthur	185	Do
177.	Tholur	186	Do
178.	Sirukadal	187	Do
179.	Sevapettai	188	Do
180.	Ayathur	189	Do
181.	Perumalpattu	193	Do
182.	Tirur	194	Do
183.	Vengathur Armvoyal	201	Do
184.	Kasavanallathur	208	Do
185.	Agaram	209	Do
186.	Panapakkan	210	Do
187.	Ramankoil	211	Do
188.	Madankuppam	212	Do
189.	Senna aram	213	Do
190.	Senji	214	Do
191.	Thennankaranai	215	Do
192.	Citrampakkam	216	Do
193.	Perambakkam	217	Do
194.	Kavankulathur	218	Do
195.	Pudumavilangai	219	Do
196.	Ainmanambakkam	86	Do
197.	Gerukampundi	141	Do
198.	Kannathur Reddikuppam	35	Chengalpattu
199.	Muttukadu	36	Do
200.	Kovilanthangal (Kanjithotti)	44	Do
201.	Yeeraraghavapuram	9	Sriperumbudur
202.	Parivakkam	10	Do
203.	Panavedu Natham	11	Do
204.	PidariThangal	12	Do
205.	Kolappancheri	13	Do
206.	Kulathuvanchery	Do	45
207.	Srinivasapuram	46	Do
208.	Kattupakkam	47	Do
209.	Ghenneerkuppam	48	Do
210.	Koparasanallur	49	Do
211.	Ayyppanthangal	50	Do
212.	Thelliaragaram	51	Do
213.	Mugalivakkam	53	Do
214.	Mangadu	42	Do
215.	Mogappair	81	Saidapet
216.	Nelambu	82	Do
217.	Adayalambatru	83	Do
218.	Ayanabakkam	85	Do
219.	Noombal	92	Do
220.	Sivabootham	93	Do
221.	Ghettiaragaram	94	Do
222.	Thandalam	95	Do
223.	Kuppam	96	Do
224.	Kavambakkam	97	Do
225.	Porur	98	Do
226.	Mettukuppam	99	Do
227.	Nerkundram	100	Do
228.	Virugambakkam	101	Do
229.	Ramapuram	102	Do
[230.	Mathur	35	Chengalpattu]
231.	Manjambakkam	36	Do
232.	Madhavaram	44	Do
233.	Tambaram	9	Sriperumbudur
234.	Ambattur	10	Do
235.	Maduravoyal	11	Do
236.	Manali	12	Do
237.	Chinnasekkadu	13	Do
238.	Thiruvottiyur	45	Do
239.	Ayapakkam	46	Do
240.	Ghitalapakkam	129	Do
241.	Hastinapuram	127	Do
242.	Alapakkam	82	Do
243.	Korattur	54	Do
[244.	Perungalathur	134	Tambaram]
245.	Mudichur	135	Do
246.	Irumbuliyur	137	Do
247.	Peerkankaranai	134	Do
248.	Kadaperi	132	Do
249.	Pulikoradu	131	Do
250.	Chithalapakkam	148	Do
251.	Selaiyur	139	Do
252.	Sembakkam	125	Do
253.	Rajakilpakkam.	140	Do
254.	Gowrivakkam	141	Do
255.	Vengaivasal	148	Do
256.	Madampakkam	143	Do
257.	Thiruvancheri	138	Do
258.	Agaramthen	146	Do
259.	Vengambakkam	145	Do
260.	Kaspapuram	144	Do
261.	Nandambakkam	91	Tambaram
262.	Parankimalai	94	Do
263.	Alandur	90	Do
264.	Adambakkam	107	Do
265.	Pazhavanthangal	95	Do
266.	Nanganallur	105	Do
267.	Meenambakkam	96	Do
268.	Kowlbazaar	97	Do
269.	Anakaputhur	98	Do
270.	Pozhichalur	99	Do
271.	Pammal	100	Do
272.	Zamin Pallavaram	125	Do
273.	Contonment Pallavaram	120	Do
274.	Isa Pallavaram	101	Do
275.	Trisulam	103	Do
276.	Thalakkanancheri	104	Do
277.	UUagaram	106	Do
278.	Moovarasampattu	124	Do
279.	Madipakkam	123	Do
280.	Nanmangalam	121	Do
281.	Nemillicheri	126	Do
282.	Kovilambakkalfl	122	Do
283.	Thiruneermalai	130	Do
284.	Perungudi	113	Do
285.	Seevaram	114	Do
286.	Medavakkam	130	Do
287.	Jalladianpettai	154	Do
288.	Perumbakkam	153	Do
289.	Sittalapakkam	148	Do
290.	Kovilancheri	147	Do
291.	Madurapakkam	149	Do
292.	Moolacheri	150	Do
293.	Ottiampakkam	151	Do
294.	Arasankazhani	152	Do
295.	Seminaryeri	156	Tambaram
296.	Sholinganallur	155	Do
297.	Sandavellur	34	Sriperumpudur
298.	Sendamangalam	29	Do
299.	Moondramkattalai	87	Do
300.	Palur	87	Chengalpattu
301.	Kannigaiper	90	Uthukottai
302.	Amur	108	Ponneri