1[(1)] Subject to the other provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, the District Expert Committee shall have the following powers and functions,namely:—
(a) to identify the Kadavu or river bank in a district in which sand removal may be permitted;
(b) to fix the total quantity of sand that can be removed from a Kadavu or river bank giving due regard to the guidelines of expert agencies like the Centre for Earth Science Studies and Centre for Water Resources Development and Management or 2[other agencies in the sector, as may be specified by the Government from time to time;]
(c) to control the transportation of sand from a Kadavu or river bank to another area;
(d) to close a Kadavu or river bank opened for sand removal;
(e) to ensure the protection of river banks and keep them free from encroachment;
(f) to consider the opinion of the Kadavu Committee and take suitable measures to achieve the objectives of this Act;
(g) to ensure that the Kadavu Committees of the District are performing their powers and functions conferred on them by this Act;
1.Numbered by Act 15 of 2013 (w.e.f 25-11-2012).
2.Inserted by Act 15 of 2013 (w.e.f 25-11-2012).
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(h) to advise the Government on the measures to protect the biophysical environmental system of the river banks;
(i) to recommend to the Government the necessity to ban sand removal from any river or Kadavu during any season of the year;
(j) to carry out the Directions given by the Government, from time to time;
(k) to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are conferred on it by this Act and rules made thereunder;
(l) to advise on any other matter to carryout the provisions of this Act.
1[(2) Where it is not possible to implement the conditions referred to in section 12 or are not being implemented, the District Expert Committee shall not grant permission to remove sand from any Kadavu or cancel the permission granted as the case may be.]