Explanation:

Central Ground Water Authority

• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), Ministry of Jal shakti, D/o Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 vide Gazette notification has the mandate of regulating ground water development and management in the country. In 23 States/ Union Territories ground water development is being regulated by the Central Ground Water Authority. The remaining States/ Union Territories are regulating groundwater development through ground water legislation enacted by them or through Government Orders.
•  CGWA has been regulating ground water development for its sustainable management in the country through measures such as issuing advisories, public notices, grant of No Objection Certificates (NOC) for ground water withdrawal. The Central Ground Water Authority has framed guidelines for grant of NOC for withdrawal of groundwater, which have been revised from time to time.
• Major activities being taken up by Central Ground Water Authority include macro/microlevel groundwater management studies, exploratory drilling programme, monitoring of groundwater levels and water quality through a network of groundwater observation wells comprising both large diameter open wells and purpose-built bore/tube wells (piezometers), implementation of demonstrative schemes for artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting for recharge augmentation.
• The Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing the protection and improvement of the environment. It empowers the Central Government to establish authorities charged with the mandate of preventing environmental pollution in all its forms and to tackle specific environmental problems that are peculiar to different parts of the country. The Act is one of the most comprehensive legislations with a pretext to protect and improve the environment.