(1) The Authority shall function under the overall control and supervision of the State Government.
(2) If the Authority is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the interest of the public to regulate the extraction or the use of ground water in any form in any area, it will advise the State Government - 8 - - 9 -Ex-341/2023 Ex-341/2023 to declare any such area to be a notified area for the purpose of this Ordinance, with effect from such date as may be specified therein. This declaration will be notified in the Official Gazette;
Provided that the date so specified in the notification shall not be earlier than three months from the date of publication of the said notification.
(3) Every such notification shall, in addition to its publication in the Official Gazette, be published in not less than one daily regional language newspaper having wide circulation in the State, and shall also be served in such manner as the State Government may think fit and all or any of the following modes may be followed in affecting such service, namely: -
(a) by putting on the website of the authority
(b) by affixing a copy of the notification to some conspicuous part of the offices of the Village Council/ Local Council located in the said area;
(c) by proclaiming by beat of drum or by means of loudspeakers the content of the notification in the said area;
(d) in such other manner as may be prescribed.
(4) If in the opinion of the Authority, the availability of the ground water has improved in a notified area, it may advise State Government to de-notify such area and the State Government may do so according to the procedure prescribed under sub-section (3).
(5) The Authority will also take steps to ensure that exploitation of ground water resources does not exceed the natural replenishment to the aquifers. Whenever there is mismatch, steps will be taken to ensure augmentation of ground water resources in addition to regulatory measures.
(6) The authority shall maintain and upkeep the data-base on ground water related information.