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FBOs would need CGWA’s no-objection certificate to extract ground water
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Wednesday, 22 March, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an order which referred to the meeting of the inter-ministerial committee constituted for the issuance of licenses for ground water users and mandated that food business operators (FBOs) must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for the extraction of ground water.The apex food regulator has asked the commissioners and state food safety departments to convey the message to the FBOs.
According to a senior CGWA official, the order is applicable to companies that extract water without an NOC.“The existing guidelines state that an NOC is issued to the companies for a period of two years first, and after we are satisfied with the company’s compliance, we reissue the NOC for a period of three years and subsequently for a five-year period. This order is precisely for those companies which do not adhere to the guidelines,” he added.
Further, it has been learnt that the standing committee of Parliament had also asked the food authority to look into the matter and issue directions with regards towater extraction.In August 2016, CGWA issued guidelines for food parks and agro-based industries in areas notified for ground water regulations with effect from August 31, 2016.
According to the guidelines, industries falling under this category would be considered for grant of NOCs for ground water withdrawal in notified areas subject to certain conditions, which include food parks or agro industries. They must havefood processing units for low water-intensive crops and not for high water-intensive crops, thereby saving on ground water withdrawal.
The guidelines also stated that no water-intensive industries or units should be allowed within the food parks or agro industries. However,products such as starch and glucose would be permitted.
They stated that the waste water generated shall be treated and gainfully utilised and the food parks and agro industries shall submit a yearly report to the district administration and CGWA, indicating the ground water withdrawn and saved.CGWA reserves the right to withdraw the NOC in case of any violation of the guidelines.
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