Groundwater NOC — CGWA, Haryana HWRA and UP Ground Water Department: Who Needs It, Who Is Exempt, What It Costs
Quick answer: Any industry, infrastructure or mining project that draws groundwater needs a No Objection Certificate — from the Central Ground Water Authority on the NOCAP portal where the state has no regulator, or from the state authority where it does: Haryana Water Resources Authority (Gurugram, Faridabad) and the UP Ground Water Department under the UP Ground Water Act 2019 (Noida, Ghaziabad). Exempt: micro and small enterprises drawing under 10 m³ a day (they still register and fit a flow meter), agriculture, rural drinking schemes, armed forces, and industries' own drinking use up to 5 m³ a day. In over-exploited blocks — most of NCR — no NOC issues to a new industry except an MSME, and none at all to new packaged-water units. Charges depend on the block's category and the volume; renewals go in 90 days before expiry. We classify, apply and keep the telemetry and audit duties current.
Last verified 4 October 2026 — rules on this page checked against the current notifications. We update it the day a rule changes.
Who needs the NOC, who does not
| User | Position (CGWA Guidelines 2020; mirrored by HWRA/UPGWD) |
|---|---|
| Industry, infrastructure, mining — new, existing or expanding | NOC required for abstraction; renew online 90 days before expiry |
| Micro and small enterprises drawing < 10 m³/day | Exempt from NOC, application fee and charges — but must register with the authority, hold an exemption certificate and install a digital flow meter |
| Industry/infrastructure/mining using groundwater only for drinking and domestic use ≤ 5 m³/day | Exempt |
| Residential / group housing for drinking and domestic use | Up to 20 m³/day exempt (with rainwater harvesting); larger societies and urban supply agencies pay abstraction charges |
| Agriculture, rural drinking schemes, armed forces / CAPF | Exempt |
| Bulk water suppliers (tankers) | Must hold their own NOC |
What the block's category decides
- Blocks are classified safe / semi-critical / critical / over-exploited on the CGWB assessment; Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad are largely over-exploited or critical
- Over-exploited: no NOC to a new industry other than an MSME; no new packaged drinking-water unit even as an MSME; no NOC for expansion of existing industry; existing units pay restoration charges
- Safe / semi-critical / critical: NOC available; abstraction charges per m³ scale with volume and category (separate tables for industry, packaged water, mining, infrastructure); 50% rebate where the unit meets the recycling/recharge conditions in the guidelines
- Rates per m³ are quoted from the authority's current schedule at filing — they differ between CGWA, HWRA and UPGWD and have been revised since 2020
State routes in our footprint
| State | Authority / portal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Haryana (Gurugram, Faridabad) | Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA Act 2020) — hwra.org.in | Tariff applies to existing units from 24 December 2020; 90 days' advance tariff is paid as security with the NOC; units drawing 100–500 m³/day file an annual self water-audit within three months; monthly water-level data on the portal; a water-supplier NOC must be under six months old |
| Uttar Pradesh (Noida, Ghaziabad) | UP Ground Water Department under the UP Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Act 2019 — via Nivesh Mitra | Industrial and commercial users apply for NOC; domestic/agricultural users register; penalties under the 2019 Act for unregistered borewells |
| Delhi | CGWA (NOCAP, cgwa-noc.gov.in) with Delhi Jal Board for supply-related NOCs | Most of the NCT is over-exploited — new industrial NOCs are effectively MSME-only |
| Bihar (Patna) | CGWA (NOCAP) unless the state notifies its own regulator | Status of a Bihar authority confirmed at filing |
Conditions that come with the NOC
- Digital flow meter with telemetry (inform the authority within 30 days of installation); piezometers for abstraction above 100 m³/day; water audit every two years above 100 m³/day; annual groundwater quality test; rainwater harvesting / recharge as specified
- Validity by category and volume; apply for renewal 90 days before expiry; expansion needs a fresh NOC
- Extraction without NOC in notified or regulated areas attracts penalties and sealing of borewells
What we do
- Block classification and route (CGWA / HWRA / UPGWD); exemption registration for MSEs; full NOC files with hydrogeological details, water-balance and recycling plan
- Charge computation and set-off claims; telemetry, piezometer and audit calendar; renewals and change-of-quantity applications
- Same file as pollution consent (CTE/CTO), factory licence and industrial approvals
Client: A Bawana (Delhi) food-processing MSE drawing about 8 m³/day from a borewell.
Situation: Had been told it needed a full CGWA NOC and a large advance payment.
Approach: Registered the unit under the MSE exemption with the exemption certificate and a telemetry flow meter; kept daily logs under 10 m³ and set a review trigger for expansion.
Outcome: No NOC or abstraction charges payable; inspection closed on the register extract.
Client identity and certain details have been changed or withheld to protect confidentiality. Outcomes depend on individual facts and are not a guarantee of results.
Talk to us before you file anything
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a groundwater NOC?
Every industry, infrastructure or mining project abstracting groundwater — from CGWA on NOCAP, or from the state authority (HWRA in Haryana, UP Ground Water Department in UP) where one exists.
Are MSMEs exempt from the CGWA NOC?
Micro and small enterprises drawing less than 10 m³ a day are exempt from the NOC, fee and charges, but must register, hold an exemption certificate and fit a flow meter; medium enterprises are not exempt.
Can a new factory in Gurugram or Noida get a groundwater NOC?
In over-exploited blocks — most of NCR — a new industry gets an NOC only if it is an MSME, and new packaged-water units get none; safe/semi-critical/critical blocks are open with charges.
What are the groundwater abstraction charges?
Per-m³ rates that rise with volume and the block category, in separate tables for industry, packaged water, mining and infrastructure; over-exploited existing units pay restoration charges; we quote from the current CGWA/HWRA/UPGWD schedule at filing.
Who issues the NOC in Haryana?
The Haryana Water Resources Authority under the HWRA Act 2020; tariff applies from 24 December 2020 and 90 days' advance tariff is taken as security with the NOC.
Which law applies in Noida and Ghaziabad?
The UP Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Act 2019 — NOCs from the UP Ground Water Department, applied through Nivesh Mitra.
When do I renew a groundwater NOC?
Apply online at least 90 days before expiry; expansions need a fresh NOC.
What monitoring is mandatory?
A telemetry flow meter for all NOC holders; piezometers and a water audit every two years for abstraction above 100 m³/day; annual water-quality testing.