(1)The Authority shall work according to the f ramework ol the State Water Policy.
(2) The Authority shall recognise the policy of empowering Biver Basin Agencies in accordance with the state water Policy.
(3) The Authority shall, in accordance with the State Water Policy, co-ordinate with all relevant State agencies to implement a comprehensive hydrometeorological data system for the State.
(4) The Authority shall, in accordance with State Water Policy, promote and implement sound water conservation and management practices throughout the Slate.
(5) The Authority shall support and aid the enhancement and preservation ol water quality within the State in close co- ordination with the relevant State Agencies and in doing so the principle that "the person who pollutes shall pay'shall be followed.
(6) The Authority shall fix the Ouota at Basin level, sub-basin level or project level on the basis of the following principles -
(a) forequitable distribution of water in the command area oI the project, every land holder in the command area shall be given Quota;
(b) the Quota shall be {ixed on the basis ol the Iand in the command area:
General Policies of the Authority.
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Provided that, during the water scarcily period each landholder shall, as far as possible, be given Ouota adequate to irrigate at Ieast one acre of land;
(c) in order to share the distress in the river basin of sub-basin equitably, the water stored in the reservoirs in lhe basin or sub-basin, as the case may be, shall be controlled by the end of October every year in such way that, the percentage of utilizable water, including Kharit use, shall, for all reservoirs approximately be the same;
(d) subject to the condition of efticient use of water, the existing private sector lilt irrigation management schemes Shall be allowed to continue {or a period ol five years lrom the date of commencement of this Act and thereatter on the date that may be specilied by the Govemment the provisions ol sub-section (4) ol section 14 shall apply :
Provided that, having regard to geographical conditions', ditf erent dates may be notified lor differenl areas.
(e) the command area ol private lift lrrigation schemes, on the date ol commencement of this Act, shall be treated at par with the command area of the irrigation projects;
(7) The Authority shall ensure that the principle ol 'lail to head" irrigation is implemented by the Biver Basin Agency.
(8) The Authority shall while framing policy, give preference to the projects so that , the physical backlog forming the basis ol the financial backlog be eradicated in accordance with the Govemoas directive.
(9) (a) TheAuthority shall striveto make the water available to the drought prone areas ol the State;
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(b) The Authority shall ensure that, the lunds made available to a drought prone district are spent preferably in lhe areas, where irrigation facilities are less than the other areas o{ that district.
(c) Notwithstanding anything conlained in this act, a person having more than tlvo children shall be required to pay one and half times of the normal rates ol water charges fixed under clause (d) of section 11 of thisAct to get entitlement of waterlor the purpose of agriculture under this Act:
Provided that, a person having morethan two children on the date of commencement of this Act, shall not be required to pay such one and half times water charges so long as the number of children he had on such date ol commencement does not increase:
Provided turther that, a child or more than one child born in a single delivery within the period of one year from such date of commencement shall notbetaken into consideration lor the purpose ol this sub-section.
Explanation - For the purpose of this subsection-
(a) Where a couple has only one child on or after the date ol such commencemenl, any number ol children born out of a single subsequent delivery shall be deemed to be one entity;
(b) "Child" does not include an adopted child or children;
13. TheAuthority and the Dispute Besolution Oflicer shall lor the purposes ol making any inquiry or initiating any proceedings under this Act, have the powers as are vested in a civilcourt, underthe Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of '1908) in respect of the lollowing matters, namely:-
(a) the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any wilness and examining him on oath :
Powers of Authority and Dispute Besolution Officer.
Permission of River Basin Agency.
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(b) the discovery and production ol any document or other material object producible as evidence;
(c) the reception of evidence on affidavits;
(d) lhe requisition of any public record;
(e) the issue ol commission for examination of wilnesses;
(f) review its decisions, directions and orders ;
(g) any other matter which may be prescribed.
Chapter lV State Water Planning