Ludhiana: City industrialists who were seeking relaxation in the norms for applying for permissions for extracting groundwater within their factories will now be able to get interim permissions from Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA). Till now, the factory owners had to apply for permissions to extract groundwater inside their factories from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), which according to businessmen was a very time taking and complex procedure.
Ever since last year, when these norms of seeking permissions from the CGWA came into effect, several business associations had to organise help camps for their members to help them apply for permissions. However, the PWRDA will provide ad-interim permissions for groundwater extraction to industrial and commercial units in Punjab under the draft guidelines, pending their finalisation. Units which are granted interim permission will have to comply with the rules and regulations of the PWRDA once they are finalised by the authorities concerned.
Meanwhile, confirming the development, a source in the PWRDA said, “We will grant ad-interim permission to the industrial and commercial units in the state for extracting groundwater on the condition that the applicant shall comply with the conditions contained in the draft guidelines. Besides, he shall also comply with the finalised guidelines as and when they are notified. Factory and commercial establishment owners interested to obtain ad-interim permission under the draft guidelines may apply to the authority in the specified form available on websites irrigation.punjab.gov.in” and www.punjab.gov.in. Application form, along with the required enclosures and specified fee, can be sent either by registered post to the permissions section, Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority, SCO 149-152, third floor, Sector 17-C Chandigarh, or by email to permission.pwrda@punjab.gov.in.”
Welcoming the development, Amarjit Singh Swan, president of the Ludhiana Sewing Machine Industry Association, said, “This is the biggest relief of the year for the factory owners as applying for permission for extracting groundwater was very cumbersome process and the kind of formalities required for permissions were complex that we had to hire professionals and organise camps to apply for the permissions from the CGWA. Though the PWRDA will grant temporary permissions, we are okay with it as we have to apply for permissions locally at the Chandigarh office only, which means the officials will be easily accessible. Moreover, in case of permanent permissions too the same office will grant us the same once the guidelines are finalised.”
According to Pradeep Wadhawan, former senior vice-president of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA), “We are thankful to the state government and the PWRDA for taking a historic decision of providing interim permissions to the factories and commercial establishments for extracting groundwater on their premises. At the same time, we request the state government and the PWRDA to make the guidelines for seeking permanent permissions simpler. Besides, it should also keep those factories out of the purview of permissions which do not require water for any kind of industrial processes except for consumption of their workers.”
Sukhwinder Singh , executive member of Ludhiana Business Forums, said, “This decision will benefit thousands of industrial units in Ludhiana on whom the danger of action by authorities was looming large as they did not have permission for drawing groundwater since they were not able to fulfil the formalities. Now, with the interim permission system started by the PWRDA, such units too would be able to get permissions. Even if it is temporary, but at least they will be able to buy some time to comply with the final regulations which will be decided by the PWRDA.”
Box – How to apply for interim permissions
Factory and commercial establishment owners interested in obtaining ad-interim permission under the draft guidelines may apply to the authorities concerned on the specified form available on websites irrigation.punjab.gov.in and www.punjab.gov.in.
Application form, along with the required enclosures and specified fee can be sent either by registered post to permissions section, Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority, SCO 149-152, Third Floor, Sector 17-C Chandigarh, or by email to permission.pwrda@punjab.gov.in. Queries can also be made on 8847469231 during office hours on working days or via email on query.pwrda@punjab.gov.in