• The Himachal Pradesh Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Amendment Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on April 5, 2023.  The Bill amends the Himachal Pradesh Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2005.  The Act provides for the regulation of groundwater usage, including requiring users to register and obtain permits to extract groundwater.  

• Penalties:  Offences under the Act include obstructing or failing to supply required information to the Himachal Pradesh Ground Water Authority or other duly appointed state government officers.  They also include failure to comply with rules, orders and directions made under the Act.  All contraventions of the Act are punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, or a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh, or both, for the first offence.  The Bill removes imprisonment as a punishment, retaining the fine.

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