15. Powers of [the Authority].-(1) [The Authority] shall, subject to the other provisions of this Act, have power to do anything which may be necessary or expedient for performing its duties and discharging its functions under this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, such powers shall include the power-
(a) to inspect all water supply and sewerage facilities in the State by whomsoever they are operated ;
(b) to obtain such periodic or specific information from any local body and operating agency as the Authority] may deem necessary;
(c) to provide training for its own personnel as well as for employees of the local bodies;
(d) to prepare and carry out schemes for water supply and sewerage;
(e) to lay down the schedule of fees and other charges for all kinds of services rendered by [the Authority] to the State Government, local bodies, institutions or individuals;
(f) to enter into contract or agreement with any person or persons as [the Authority] may deem necessary, for performing its duties and discharging its functions under this Act;
(g) to adopt its own budget annually;
(h) to approve tariffs for water supply and sewerage services applicable to respective local areas comprised within the jurisdiction of [the Authority] and such local bodies as have entered into an agreement with [the Authority];
(i) to manage all its affairs so as to provide the people of the area within its jurisdiction with wholesome water and, where feasible, efficient sewerage services;
(j) to take such other measures as may be necessary, to ensure water supply in times of any emergency;
(k) to acquire, possess and hold lands and other property and to carry any water or sewerage works through, across, over or under any highways, roads, streets, or place and, after reasonable notice in writing to the owner or occupier into, through over or under any building or land;
(l) to abstract water from any natural source and dispose of waste water;
(m) to raise, borrow or secure money on such terms and conditions as may be expedient, and in particular by way of loans and advances, deposits and issue of debentures and obtain subventions or mortgages from public institutions like the Life Insurance Corporation of India, banks and any international organisations or from the State and Central Governments, for drinking water supply and sewerage schemes or any other schemes for improvement of sanitation;
(n) to receive grants from the State Government, the Central Government and the local bodies for water supply and sewerage or any other sanitation improvement schemes;
(o) to repay instalments of loans and pay interest on the principal thereof to the lenders as per mutually agreed terms and conditions;
(p) to advance loans to the local bodies or Government for their water supply and sewerage schemes on such terms and conditions as may be specified by [the Authority];
(q) to recover from the local bodies or Government principal and interest thereon in respect of loans advanced to them by [the Authority];
(r) to incur such expenditure as [the Authority] may deem necessary for performing its duties and functions under this Act;
(s) to exercise such other powers as are conferred on [the Authority] under other provisions of this Act.