The Lakshadweep Ground Water (Development and Control) Regulation, 2001.

This Regulation provides for development and control of ground water in Union territory of Lakshadweep. It provides for establishing a Ground Water Authority (Authority) to be headed by a Chairperson and lays down the provisions for appointment of the Chairperson and other staff of the Authority. The Regulation provides for declaring any island to be a notified Island for the purpose of this Regulation and denotify the same once availability of ground water has improved. The pumping of water from any well on a notified Island is prohibited unless a permit has been granted by the Authority. A permit is also to be obtained to sink a well on such notified Islands. All existing users on the Island need to be registered once it has been notified. The Authority has power to cancel any permit or registration granted by it under the circumstances stated in the Regulation.
The functions of the Authority include undertaking research in the improvement or development and quality of ground water; collecting and publishing statistics relating to ground water; taking a specimen of soils or other materials or water extracted from wells; inspecting relevant records or documents and asking any question necessary for obtaining information; and requiring the user of ground water to install water measuring devices on any water supplies. The Authority also has the power to search any property and seize any equipment used for illegal sinking or pumping of water. A Ground Water Development Fund shall be constituted which will be credited with grants and loans from the government and other sources. The Regulation provides for penalties for offences committed thereunder.