Irrigation potential through groundwater is determined by the yield potential of the underlying aquifer ( underground water body). The construction of a new groundwater well should therefore be based on the available data and information available to the agencies involved in groundwater development and management in a given area.
Bore wells play a major part in irrigation of agricultural lands. The cost and setup of drilling bore well is a crucial economic factor for a lot of farmers and entrepreneurs, but drilling a bore well in India without permission from the respective governing body is illegal.
In this article, we will understand how the application system works and how can an individual or an organization apply for a permit for drilling/digging a bore well in India.
Below are some important links which will help you in applying for NOC and also checking on government guidelines:
1. Guidelines for issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for ground water withdrawal – Issued by CENTRAL GROUND WATER AUTHORITY
2. Check Eligibility – How to check eligibility for submitting drilling bore well application
3. Application for NOC – Online application for NOC for drilling bore well
4. New user registration – New user registration for application of NOC for drilling bore well
5. Login for existing user – Login page after creating account in Government of India Ministry of Jal Shakti
Procedure for application of agriculture bore well
- The Mandal Revenue Officer needs to be paid Rs.100 for the application. For the survey of the groundwater system, the farmer must submit FORM-2 with a demand draft for Rs.1000/- in the name of the District Deputy Director, Ground Water Department.
- As soon as the Mandal revenue officers receive the application from the farmer, they will verify that the proposed site of the new well is 250 meters from the existing bore well of drinking water.
- MRO ( Mandal Revenue Officer ) after preliminary inspection, refers the application to respective state electricity transmission board clearance for power feasibility.
- The application will be forwarded to the concerned District Deputy Director, Ground Water Department after receiving a clearance certificate from state electricity transmission board and from MRO regarding spacing norms so that a further investigation can be conducted regarding groundwater availability.
- After finding that groundwater is available, the feasibility report will be forwarded to the MRO for sanctioning the permission in FORM 3.
- Only 120 meters of depth will be sanctioned for the bore well.
- MRO’s would ensure that the bore well drilling machinery and the operating agency are registered under Ground Water Department before a bore well is drilled.
Standard distance between two bore wells and regulations / Laws
The law / regulation of minimum distance between bore wells is governed by state law. In general, between two bore wells, a minimum distance of 250-350 meters (820 – 1148 feet) must be maintained.
Minimum distance of bore well from various land formations
The regulations of minimum distance of bore well from various natural land formations and man made felicities is mostly governed by the local state law. But, in case of absence of guidelines, following norms can be followed:
- 10 m from a watertight septic tank
- 15 m from a sub-surface effluent disposal field or an outdoor pit privy
- 30 m from pesticide or fertilizer storage
- 50 m from above-ground fuel storage tanks
- 50 m from the outer boundary of a graveyard
- 50 m from sewage effluent discharge to the ground surface
- 100 m from a manure storage facility or manure collection area or livestock yard
- 100 m from dead animal burial or composting site
- 450 m from any area where waste is disposed or any landfill
List of application forms to get permission of bore well
| FORM NAME | USE / DECELERATION | FEES (INR) |
| FORM – 1A under Rule 6 | Bore well application for agricultural use | 50 /- |
| FORM – 1B under Rule 6 | Bore well application for commercial or industrial use | 500 /- |
| FORM – 4 under Rule 7 | Application for registration of the end-user | 50 /- ( Agricultural use )
500 /- ( Commercial or Industrial use ) |
| FORM – 6 under Rule 8 | Registration application for agency | 5000 /- |
Central government bore well drilling subsidy schemes
Different state governments have issued various subsidy schemes for digging of bore well.
Central government has released bore well drilling scheme under pradhan mantri krishi sinchayee yojana – PMKSY (implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR).
To determine the cost of proposals, the state government’s Standard Schedule of Rates shall be applied in the absence of any equivalent Central Scheme norms or rates.
The funds will be used for four aspects of the project.
- Cost of groundwater extraction system construction (well, bore well or tube well)
- Cost of the motor or pump (Solar or electrical)
- Cost of water supply pipes up to 200 meters
- Cost of survey for site selection ( well, tube well, or bore well point site selection)
Reimbursement of money through pradhan mantri krishi sinchayee yojana subsidy scheme, shall be made in the following ratio:
- 90:10 (central government : State government) for northeast hilly areas of India
- 60:40 (central government : State government) for rest of the areas of India
Approximate maximum eligible cost decided by Central and various state governments for various types of wells and machinery is listed below:
| Structure Type | Formation / Soil structure | Cost ( INR ) |
| Tube Well ( diameter 155 mm, and depth upto 90 meter) | Soft Rock | 300000 |
| Dug Well (Large Diameter up to 6 meter and depth upto 20 m ) | Hard Rock | 650000 |
| Dug-Cum Bore Well(Large Diameter upto 6m and depth 40) | Hard Rock | 700000 |
| Bore Well ( diameter 155 mm, and depth up to 100) | Hard Rock | 300000 |
| Electrical Pump with LT panels etc up to 5 HP | | 75000 |
| PV Solar Pumps with LT panels etc (3 to 5 HP) As per benchmark cost of MNRE | | 77000 / HP (Pan India except North-East regions) |
| Hydro geological and geophysical survey for site selection | | 28000 |
| Distribution Pipe (Canvas Hose Pipe ) 200 meter | | 20000 |
Eligibility criteria for availing PMKSY subsidy scheme
- The following criteria must be met in order for Ground Water irrigation schemes other than the overexploited (OE), critical, and semi-critical areas to be funded:
- The available replenishable groundwater resources are less than 60% developed / utilized.
- Presence of rainfall of 750 mm or more per year for recharging of underground water
- A shallow groundwater level of 15m or less below ground level before the monsoon season.
- In groundwater development for irrigation, a stage of development (SOD) should not exceed 70% in an area at any time after the implementation of the project.
- According to the guidelines, Schemes in unclassified areas will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on various criteria laid out by the government.
2. Under this scheme, only small and marginal farmers will benefit, with priority given to SC/ST and women farmers
3. Individual farmers, groups of farmers/cooperatives, Government schemes using government land/property, etc. may utilize the scheme.
4. Bore wells are to be taken up in areas where hydro-geological setup and ground water aquifers justifies their suitability.
5. For water lifting, each well should be supplied with electric/solar pumps. The proposal may include 75% electric and 25% solar pumps. For tribal areas, LWE areas, and difficult areas, solar pump ratios might be relaxed. Moreover, the whole scheme may be permitted with a solar pump if there is no electric power available. However, the final decision shall rest with MoWR, RD & GR.
