Notwithstanding the implementation of the Himachal Pradesh Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, the measure has failed to check overexploitation of groundwater due to limited usage. The Act is being implemented only in eight civil subdivisions, which are Solan and Nalagarh in Solan district, Nahan and Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district, Una and Amb in Una district and Nurpur and Jawali in Kangra district. This has defeated the purpose of the Act passed in 2005. An assessment can be gauged from the net groundwater availability and the gross draft for all use. In Paonta Sahib it is about 7,500 hectares per metre and 2,000 hectares per metre, respectively. In Kala Amb it is 125 hectares per metre and 300 hectares per metre, respectively. In Nalagarh it is about 7,750 hectares per metre and 3,900 hectares per metre, respectively. In Una, it is about 15,900 hectares per metre and 15,000 hectares per metre, respectively. The report indicates that Kala Amb and Una need to adopt artificial groundwater recharging by constructing structures. This necessitates the need to register users and monitor water withdrawal by installing meters. The failure to do so has been made a punishable offence under the Act. Irrigation and Public Health officials have been directed to install meters and if users fail to do so after seeking registration, to charge them for the installation. Little has been done in this direction. With a large number of commercial projects on, there is an urgent need to notify the Act statewide.