1. No person shall fraudulently,-
(a) alter the index to any meter or prevent any meter from duly registering the quantity of the water supplied; and
(b) abstract or use water before it has been registered by a meter setup for the purpose of measuring the same.
(2) The existence of artificial means under the control of the consumer for causing any such alternation, prevention, obstruction or use shall be an evidence that the consumer has fraudulently affected the same.
237. Payment for supply of water,- In a premises where a meter has been attached ona supply pipe, the occupier shall be liable to pay for the water, shown to have been consumed on the basis of the reading recorded by the meter;
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Provided that where a water-meter attached to the supply pipe in any premises or building connected with the service mains of the Municipality, goes out of order, or where there is a dispute about the proper operation of such water-meter, where such water-meter is fraudulently altered or tampered with, the fee for the supply of water to such premises or buildings, shall be two times the average of two preceding bills.
238. Entrustment of operation and maintenance of water supply system, billing and collection of charge,- A Municipality may, with the prior approval of the Government, entrust the work of operation and maintenance of the water supply system within the municipal area and the work of billing and collection of water charges to any Government, statutory or private agency, subject to such condition, as the Municipality may, determine.
239. Joint and serval liability of owner and occupiers for offence in relation to water supply.
If any offence relation to water supply is committed under this Act on any premises connected with the municipal water-works the owner, the person primarily liable for payment of tax on lands and buildings, and the occupier of the said premises, shall bejointly and severally liable for such offence.
CHAPTER -III Drainage and Sewerage
240. Municipality to provide drainage, sewerage and out -fall,- From a date appointed by Government by a notification issued in this behalf, the municipality shall construct and maintain drains and sewers and provide a safe and sufficient out-fall, in or outside the municipal area for effectual drainage and proper discharge of stoini water and sewerage of the municipal area in such manner as not to cause any nuisance whether by flooding part of the municipal area or any surrounding area.
241. Provision of means for disposal of sewage,- For the purpose of receiving, treating, storing, disinfecting distributing or otherwise disposing of sewage, the Municipality may construct, operate, maintain, develop and manage any work within or outside the municipal area.
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242. Public drains and sewage disposal works to vest in the Municipality,-
(1) All public drains, all drains in, alongside or under any public street, and all sewage disposal works, constructed or acquired out of the Municipal Fund of a Municipality or otherwise, and all works, materials and things appertaining thereto, which are situated within or outside the municipal area, shall vest in the Municipality.
(2) All public and other drains, which are vested in the Municipality are hereafter in this Act referred to as municipal drains.
(3) For the purposes of laying, constructing, enlarging, deepening or otherwise repairing or maintaining any such drain or sewage disposal so much of the sub-soil appertaining thereto, as maybe necessary for the said purposes, shall be deemed also to vest in the Municipality.
(4) All drains and ventilation shafts, pipes, pipes and all appliance and fittings connected with the drainage works constructed or set up out of the Municipal Fund of a Municipality in or upon the premises, not belonging to the Municipality, whether:-
(a) before or after the commencement of this Act; and
(b) for the use of the owner or occupier of such premises or not, shall, unless the Municipality has otherwise determined, or does at any time otherwise determine, vest and be deemed always to have vested in the Municipality.
243. Power of Municipality to make over to or to take over from, a statutory body the drainage and sewerage service,- A Municipality may, with the prior approval of the Government, subject to such conditions, as the Municipality may determine, make over to, or take over from a statutory body and drain or sewer or sewage disposal works for administration and management thereof