Packaged drinking water plants evade groundwater extraction charges in Mancherial

Several industries, hotels, and water plants in Mancherial district are illegally drawing groundwater in violation of Government Order No.15, officials said. The unchecked extraction is causing environmental damage and revenue loss, prompting calls for a vigilance committee and stricter enforcement.

Mancherial: Groundwater resources are being overexploited in Mancherial district in violation of Government Order No.15, causing serious environmental implications. The order, issued on May 27, 2023, was meant to regulate and control groundwater extraction across the State.

Under the order, individual domestic consumers in rural and urban areas, rural drinking water supply schemes, armed forces establishments, and agricultural activities are exempted from groundwater extraction charges. However, residential apartments, housing societies, hotels, schools, bulk water suppliers, packaged drinking water plants, industries, and mining projects must pay extraction charges every month.

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For instance, packaged drinking water plants categorised as ‘safe’ are charged Rs 12 per 1000 litres for extracting up to two lakh litres of groundwater and Rs 18 per 1000 litres for extraction between two lakh and ten lakh litres per day.

Groundwater department officials said the district has about 300 packaged drinking water plants, 500 hotels and schools, and 15 industries. Many of these entities, they noted, are illegally drawing groundwater without paying extraction charges, resulting in revenue loss to the government.

“The owners of unauthorised plants are threatening dire consequences for asking them to pay the extraction charges. They claim to have the support of local public representatives and even resort to caste-based and regional abuse when officials inspect plants operating without no-objection certificates,” a staff member of the groundwater department said, requesting anonymity.

Officials attributed the large-scale violations to a lack of public awareness about Government Order No.15 and Sections 20 and 26 of the Telangana State Water, Land and Trees Act (TSWALTA), 2002. They suggested forming a vigilance committee to check illegal extraction and raise awareness about the rules.

Experts cautioned that overexploitation of groundwater could deplete aquifers and impose financial burdens on the public. As groundwater levels fall, deeper wells and higher energy costs become necessary, potentially leading to land subsidence, infrastructure damage, and increased flood risk.