How to Apply for CGWA NOC Online (2026): Complete Bhu-Neer Portal Step-by-Step Guide

If you run a factory, hotel, hospital, IT park, mall, mine or infrastructure project that draws groundwater, the government now expects you to file for permission on a single national portal — Bhu-Neer. This guide explains exactly how to apply for CGWA NOC online, which government portal to use, what documents you need, what it costs, and how long it takes — written for business owners and project managers, not lawyers.

By the end you will know whether your project falls under the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) or a State Ground Water Authority, and you will be able to move through the application without the guesswork that causes most rejections.

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What Is the Bhu-Neer Portal?

Bhu-Neer (from the Sanskrit words for "earth" and "water") is the Government of India's official online portal for groundwater withdrawal permissions. It was launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti during India Water Week 2024 and is now the only authorised system for filing CGWA NOC applications. It replaced the older NOCAP portal (cgwa-noc.gov.in).

The official web address is cgwa-bhuneer.mowr.gov.in. Everything — fresh applications, renewals, revivals, fee payment, compliance uploads and status tracking — now happens in one place. If a consultant tells you to apply anywhere else for a CGWA NOC, that is a red flag.

First, Confirm Which Portal Actually Applies to You

This is where most applicants lose weeks. India runs two parallel groundwater regulatory systems. The Bhu-Neer portal is for states under direct CGWA jurisdiction. Several industrial states have their own authority and their own portal, and CGWA will simply reject applications from those states.

We publish dedicated state walkthroughs — for example Haryana (HWRA), Uttar Pradesh (UPGWD), Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana — so you land on the right authority the first time.

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Do You Even Need a CGWA NOC?

You need a groundwater NOC if you extract groundwater for non-domestic, non-agricultural use above the prescribed threshold. In practice this covers:

• Industries and manufacturing units drawing more than 10 kilolitres per day (KLD)
• Infrastructure, real estate and township projects above the same threshold
• Mining and dewatering projects — regardless of volume
• Hotels, resorts, hospitals, malls, IT parks and large commercial complexes
• Bulk water suppliers, packaged drinking water and bottling units

Individual domestic households and farmers using groundwater for irrigation are generally exempt.

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How to Apply for CGWA NOC Online — Step by Step

Step 1 — Register on the Bhu-Neer Portal

Go to cgwa-bhuneer.mowr.gov.in and create an account for your entity. You will provide the legal name of the firm, PAN, CIN or GSTIN, the authorised signatory's details, mobile number and email. The portal sends an OTP to verify your credentials and generates a unique login. Keep these credentials safe — every renewal and compliance filing for the life of the project uses the same account.

Step 2 — Get the Hydrogeological Report Prepared

This is the technical heart of the application and the most common reason for rejection when done poorly. A CGWA-accredited Ground Water Professional must prepare a Hydrogeological Report / Impact Assessment covering:

• Exact site coordinates, land use and the groundwater assessment category (Safe, Semi-Critical, Critical or Over-Exploited)
• Existing and proposed borewell details — depth, diameter and yield
• Pre- and post-monsoon water levels and an Earth Resistivity (geophysical) survey
• Aquifer characterisation and a safe-yield estimate for your demand
• A water-conservation and artificial-recharge plan (mandatory in stressed areas)
• A NABL-accredited water-quality test report

Step 3 — Select the Application Type and Fill the Online Form

Log in and click Apply, then choose your category — Industry, Infrastructure, or Mining. The form asks for water demand (in KLD), number of borewells, source break-up (fresh vs recycled) and project details. Fill the demand figure carefully: an unjustified figure invites queries and delay.

Step 4 — Upload Documents

Attach every supporting document (full list below) plus the Hydrogeological Report. Files must be legible PDFs within the portal's size limits. Incomplete uploads are the number-one cause of the dreaded "query raised" status.

Step 5 — Pay the Application Processing Fee

Pay the fee online through the portal's payment gateway. A fresh application processing fee is ₹10,000. Once payment is confirmed, the application is locked and forwarded to CGWA for scrutiny.

Step 6 — Scrutiny, Queries and Site Verification

CGWA's Regional Office reviews the file. You may receive online queries — respond promptly and completely through the portal. For larger extraction volumes, a physical site inspection may be conducted. Track everything under the "Application Status" tab.

Step 7 — Download Your NOC / Permission Letter

On approval, the digitally signed Permission Letter (your CGWA NOC) becomes available for download from your dashboard, listing your sanctioned quantum, validity and compliance conditions.

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Documents Required to Apply on Bhu-Neer

• PAN, GSTIN and Certificate of Incorporation of the entity
• Board resolution / authorisation letter for the signatory
• Land ownership or lease documents and a site plan with coordinates
• Hydrogeological Report by a CGWA-accredited professional
• NABL water-quality test report
• Water demand justification and conservation / recharge plan
• State Pollution Control Board consent (CTE/CTO) for industries
• Environmental Clearance, where applicable
• Existing borewell completion reports (for renewals)

CGWA NOC Fees, Validity and Renewal

• Fresh application: ₹10,000 processing fee
• Renewal: ₹5,000; Revival of a lapsed NOC: ₹10,000
• Groundwater abstraction charges: billed annually based on assessment category and volume drawn
• Validity: 2 years in Over-Exploited / Critical areas, up to 5 years in Semi-Critical / Safe areas

File your renewal at least 90 days before expiry. Let it lapse and you must apply for a costlier revival — and any extraction in between invites penalties.

After You Get the NOC: Compliance

An NOC is the start of an ongoing obligation, not the finish line. Standard conditions include installing digital water flow meters (and telemetry for larger draws), monitoring water levels through piezometers, implementing rainwater harvesting, and filing an annual compliance report on the portal. Missing these can cost you your NOC and attract Environment Compensation.

Common Reasons CGWA Applications Get Rejected

• Applying on the wrong system (a state-authority project filed on Bhu-Neer, or vice-versa)
• A weak or non-accredited Hydrogeological Report
• Over-stated water demand with no justification
• Missing SPCB consent or land documents
• Ignoring restrictions in Over-Exploited assessment units
• Not responding to portal queries within the given window

Can You Apply Yourself, or Should You Hire a Consultant?

The Bhu-Neer portal is open to direct applicants, so technically you can file yourself. But the mandatory Hydrogeological Report must be produced by a CGWA-accredited professional, and the assessment-category rules, recharge design and demand justification are where applications succeed or fail. Most industries engage a specialist to compress a multi-month back-and-forth into a clean, first-time approval.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the official portal to apply for CGWA NOC?

The official government portal is Bhu-Neer, at cgwa-bhuneer.mowr.gov.in, run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It replaced the older NOCAP portal in 2024.

2. How long does it take to get a CGWA NOC online?

Typically 45 to 90 days from a complete submission, depending on your groundwater assessment category and how quickly you clear portal queries.

3. What is the fee to apply for CGWA NOC?

The fresh application processing fee is ₹10,000. Renewal is ₹5,000 and revival is ₹10,000, with separate annual abstraction charges based on volume and category.

4. Which states do not use the Bhu-Neer portal?

States with their own authority — including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and West Bengal — use their own state portals instead of Bhu-Neer.

5. Do I need a hydrogeological report to apply?

Yes. A Hydrogeological Report / Impact Assessment prepared by a CGWA-accredited Ground Water Professional is mandatory and is the technical backbone of the application.

Ready to Apply the Right Way?

Bhoojal Survey handles the entire Bhu-Neer application — accredited hydrogeological survey, portal submission, CGWA liaison and post-NOC compliance — so you get a first-time approval without the back-and-forth. Call +91-9691858058 or request a free eligibility check.