Chandigarh, October 23:- The Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority (HWRA), with the objective of promoting the conservation, regulation and better management of groundwater resources in the state, has taken a major decision in the public interest. The authority has decided to grant a special exemption from late fees until November 30, 2026, to facilitate the regularisation of groundwater extraction for industrial, infrastructure and mining projects.
An official spokesperson said that the authority, constituted under the Haryana Water Resources Authority Act, 2020, is responsible for monitoring and regulating the use of groundwater and surface water in the state. Under the rules, obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the authority is mandatory before using groundwater for any industrial, infrastructure or mining project in the state. The deadline for relief in late fees has been set to facilitate various stakeholders and industrialists and encourage them to comply with the regulations.
The spokesperson clarified that after the exemption period ending on November 30, 2026, late fees will be charged from December 1, 2026, in accordance with the authority’s existing guidelines. Except for users covered under the exemption category, all other groundwater users have been directed to submit their applications through the authority’s official portal, https://hwra.org.in, and obtain the required NOC. Legal action will be taken under the applicable rules against project proponents who fail to obtain an NOC within the prescribed deadline or violate the regulations.
