Before you drill
Borewells and the law in Himachal
A plain-language summary of the Himachal Pradesh Ground Water Act and its 2022 amendment, to help you prepare. It is not legal advice — rules and forms change, so check with the Jal Shakti Vibhag before drilling.
- The law
- HP Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2005amended 2022
- Where it applies
- The whole statenotified from 19 November 2019
- The Authority
- HP Ground Water Authoritychaired by the Engineer-in-Chief, Jal Shakti Vibhag
- Your home
- Register the well with the Authority, free of costs.6A — domestic consumers are outside the 'user' definition since 2022
- Other users
- Apply for a permit before sinking a wells.7 — e.g. larger hotels and businesses; decided within 60 days; drinking water comes first
- Small farms
- No royalty when irrigating under one hectares.12
- Drilling rigs
- Every rig working in the state must be registered with the Authoritys.9
Supreme Court of India, 2010
Before, during and after drilling
After children fell into open borewells, the Supreme Court laid down safety measures for every state. In short:
- Before
Tell the authorities
The landowner informs the authorities at least 15 days before a borewell is made.
- Before
A registered driller
Drilling agencies are to be registered with the district administration.
- During
A signboard
At the site, a signboard with the details of the landowner and the drilling agency.
- During
A fence round the well
Barbed wire or another barrier round the well while it is being made.
- After
Cap it, restore the ground
Mud pits and channels filled, the well covered with a lid, the ground put back as it was.
- If it fails
Fill an abandoned bore
A bore that is given up is filled from the bottom to the ground with clay, sand, boulders, pebbles or drill cuttings.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a borewell at my house?
Since the 2022 amendment an individual domestic consumer is not a 'user' under the Act, but the well is still registered with the HP Ground Water Authority — free of cost (s.6A). Check the current form with the Jal Shakti Vibhag.
Does a hotel or homestay need a permit?
A hotel or commercial property drawing groundwater applies to the Authority for a permit before sinking a well (s.7). Micro and small enterprises drawing under 10 cubic metres a day are outside the 'user' definition since 2022 — ask the Jal Shakti Vibhag which applies to you.
And a farm or orchard?
Agricultural activities are outside the 'user' definition since 2022, and anyone irrigating less than one hectare pays no royalty (s.12).
Who looks after the safety measures?
The Supreme Court's 2010 guidelines put duties on both the landowner (informing the authorities, capping, filling an abandoned bore) and the drilling agency (registration, the signboard). We are registered with the government; ask us how we handle the site measures on your job.
Sources
The Himachal Pradesh Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2005, with the 2022 amendment — prsindia.org/files/bills_acts/acts_states/himachal-pradesh/2005/Act31of2005HP.pdf State notification from 19 November 2019 — India Water Portal summary of the Act and Rules. Supreme Court of India, order of 11 February 2010 on preventing accidents in open borewells — India Water Portal. This page is a summary to help you prepare; it is not legal advice.
Site enquiry
Planning a borewell?
Where the site is, what the water is for, and whether the rig truck can reach it. We call you back — or send it on WhatsApp.
- We talkAbout the site, the water you need and the bore size.
- We see the siteAccess for the rig, the ground, nearby borewells.
- We drillDrilling, casing where needed, cleaning — and a pump if you want one.
- Call
- 98058-13194
- Based in
- Bhunter, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh