Description

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Picture Courtesy: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2074919

Context:

The Minister of Jal Shakti digitally launched the "Bhu-Neer" portal at the India Water Week 2024 closing ceremony.

About“Bhu-Neer” Portal

The "Bhu-Neer" portal is an advanced platform created by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) of the Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre.

It aims to provide a single point of contact for groundwater resource management and regulation, ensuring transparency, effectiveness, and sustainability in groundwater use.

Project developers and the general public can use the portal to ask questions and get information about groundwater withdrawal and regulation.

Features of the “Bhu-Neer” portal

A simplified interface allows for easier navigation.

A PAN-based single-ID system.

No Objection Certificate (NOC) with QR codes for easier verification.

A centralized database with information on groundwater compliance, legal frameworks, and sustainable practices.

Promote Ease of Doing Business

The portal contributes to the Prime Minister's vision of Ease of Doing Business by making groundwater regulation a simplified and faceless process.

It allows project developers to easily track applications, obtain clarifications, and pay statutory charges without dealing with complicated procedures.

India Water Week 2024

It was organized from September 17 to 20, 2024, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

India Water Week was started in 2012 to promote international water diplomacy. It provides a forum for governments, experts, and industry leaders to engage in dialogue, share innovations, and explore collaborative solutions to water-related challenges.The theme for India Water Week 2024 was "Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management."

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GROUND WATER

Source:

PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements:

1. The Central Ground Water Authority has been constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974.

2. Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL) circulated by the Ministry of Jal Shakti include provisions for Rainwater Harvesting

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect:

The Central Ground Water Authority was established under Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control the development and management of ground water resources in the country.

Statement 2 is incorrect:

The Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL) 2016 circulated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs include provisions for rainwater harvesting, which have been shared with all states/UTs. So far, 35 states and union territories have adopted the MBBL-2016 provisions for rainwater harvesting.