The Kerala Groundwater (Control and Regulation) Act 2002 came into force on 16.12.2003 vide G.O.No.6997/GW1/03/WRD, and it is considered necessary in the public interest to regulate and control any form of development of Groundwater .As per the order No.P/17/2004/WR Dtd 16.03.2004 the rules have been notified in the act .Accordingly State Groundwater Authority has been constituted on 16.01.2004.

The Authority shall consists of the following members, namely:-

  1. The Secretary to Government, Water Resource Department ; Ex-officio, who shall the Chairman of the Authority;
  2. The Secretary to Government, Finance Department ; Ex-officio;
  3. The Secretary to Government, Local Self Government(Rural Development) Department ; Ex-officio;
  4. The Director, Groundwater Department; Ex-officio, who shall be the Secretary of the Authority;
  5. The following persons nominated by the Government;
  • Two members of the Legislative Assembly;
  • An expert in Water Resources;
  • A member of Grama Panchayat
  • A member of Municipal Council;
  • A member belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe;
  • A Woman;
  • A public man;
  • An environmental activist.

Present State Groundwater Authority Members

Sl.No Authority Member Order No. and Date
1 Secretary, Water Resources Department (Chairman) Kerala Groundwater (Control and Regulation) Act, 2002
2 Secretary, Finance Department
3 Secretary, Local Self Government Department
4 Director, Groundwater Department(Secretary)
5 Sri. C.K.Nanu
MLA (Badagara),
Puthiyottil House,
Near Railway station,
Badagara P.O., Kozhikode		 G.O.(P)No.03/2019/WRD Dated 14th February 2019
6 Sri.K.Babu
MLA (Nenmara),
Sreedhalam, Pezhumpara,
Chathamangalam.P.O, Nenmara, Palakkad
PIN 678508		 G.O.(P)No.19/2017/WRD Dated 23rd September 2017
7 Dr.E.Shaji,
Assisstant Professor and Research Guide,
Department of Geology,
University of Kerala,
Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram
PIN 695581
8 Sri.Sadique Ali Madathil,
Member Pookottoor Grama Panchayath, Madathil House,
Valluvambram.P.O, Malappuram District
9 Sri.Shaji Kumar.N,
Member Thiruvalla Municipal Council,
Sandesh, Thiruvalla.P.O,
PIN 689101
10 Sri.Chengara Surendran,
Sradha,
Neeleswaram.P.O,
Kottarakkara, Kollam,
PIN 691506
11 Smt.S.K.Preeja,
Advocate,
Pulluvilakathu Veedu,
Pallichal,
Nemom.P.O,
Thiruvananthapuram
12 Sri.G.Balagangadharan Nair,
Ganga Bhavan,
PRA-G-60, GPO Lane,
Thiruvananthapuram
13 Smt.Beena Kumari.G,
Ananda Bhavan,
Edapariyaram,
Elanthoor.P.O, Pathanamthitta

“Ground Water Authority stands for the effective utilization of groundwater resources”
The establishment of Groundwater Authority in 2004 deals with the policy issues pertaining to groundwater management.

Functions

  • The Groundwater Authority imparts knowledge to general public and students on the use of groundwater, and water conservation through short films, booklets, mass awareness programs etc.
  • The development of groundwater over the years had witnessed tremendous growth in its development as a result indiscriminate and illegal extraction of groundwater is taking place at several places creating environmental instability and socio-economic issue across the state.
  • The development of groundwater in special zones such as CRZ etc. is being regulated by State Groundwater Authority.

Relevance

  • Groundwater department has shifted its focus mainly from development to management by enacting Groundwater Control and Regulation Act 2002 in the context of following:
  • The densely populated towns and cities demands huge withdrawal of groundwater from localized area and hence leads to groundwater management crisis due to over exploitation of groundwater resources.
  • The disputes on the demand based groundwater development are on its rise and are often getting complicated with the management of groundwater resources on public ground.
  • The industrial and infrastructure development projects, notification of areas to control and regulate the use of groundwater.