The Central Ground Water Authority, constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, has the mandate of regulating groundwater development, and regulates groundwater extraction by NOCs. However, the relaxation of NOC was not without precedent.
The court in its order observed that, “Agitation has thrown up an extraordinary situation, and more so in the states of Punjab and Haryana. It is not simply a law and order problem, and courts are battling to reconcile the competing rights and interests of all the stakeholders.”