New Delhi, April 27 -- The National Green Tribunal has constituted a high-level expert committee to examine lapses by States and Union Territories in regulating groundwater extraction and to recommend corrective measures for preventing over-exploitation and ensuring recharge of depleted aquifers.

The panel will comprise representatives from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), an expert from IIT Roorkee, and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), which will act as the nodal agency.

The Tribunal has directed the committee to examine State-wise data, identify gaps in the implementation of existing groundwater guidelines, and ...