Section 8 in Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2009
8. Prohibition of drilling of deep-wells, withdrawal of groundwater from existing deep-well and provision for levy of cess.
(1)The State Authority shall prohibit the drilling of deep-wells within the notified and non-notified area, for agriculture or, industrial usage :Provided that, the State Authority may, after recording the reasons in writing and in the prescribed manner grant specific permission to any person or user of groundwater to drill any deep well within the notified or non-notified area, for drinking water purposes.(2)The State Authority shall regulate, including total ban on, the construction of wells, other than deep-wells, for any purpose within the notified areas.(3)On the advice of the State Authority, the State Government shall give such guidelines to the concerned Authority to levy such cess as may be prescribed, on the use of existing deep-wells in the non-notified areas:Provided that, the proceeds of cess levied shall be forwarded by the concerned Authority to the Panchayat or the urban local body, as the case may be, and the same shall be used for implementing groundwater conservation programme.(4)The State Authority shall direct the District Authority to exercise a total prohibition on pumping of groundwater from the existing deep-wells at a depth of sixty metres or more, in the notified area. The users of deep-wells in the notified area shall follow the Groundwater Use Plan and Crop Plan prepared under section 10.The State Government shall levy appropriate cess from such users till such time these plans are notified. The District Authority shall ensure the implementation in the manner as may be prescribed.(5)No person or user of groundwater shall indulge in sale of the groundwater, within the notified area, without the prior permission of the District Authority obtained in the manner as may be prescribed.
