Assam Ground Water Control and Regulation Act, 2012 (Assam Act No. XVI of 2012).

This Act, consisting of 25 sections divided into four Chapters, aims at regulating and controlling the Development and Management of Ground Water in the State of Assam. The State Government shall establish the Assam State Ground Water Authority. It establishes composition, duties and responsibilities of the above mentioned Authority, entitled to perform the following activities: enter on any property with the right to investigate and make any measurements concerning the land or the water located on the surface or the underground; inspect the well which has been or is being sunk and the soils; take samples of soils or water extracted from wells; require by order in writing the persons sinking a well to keep and preserve it; inspect and to take copies o f the relevant records or documents and ask any question necessary for obtaining any information; types of strata encountered in the sinking of the well and the quality of the water struck, etc.; direct the user of ground water to install water measuring device on any ground water abstraction structures, etc.
The Act also provides for the registration of new users of wells and prohibits the sinking of wells in notified areas without a permit and contains provsions about rain water harvesting for groundwater recharge.
The Act further provides for the following matters: powers of the Ground Authority to enter on any property with the right to inspect or seize any land or the water located on the surface or underground; offences and penalties; appeals; rule making powers of the Government; etc.