(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab, the Authority shall periodically and at such intervals as may be prescribed, issue tariff orders specifying the charges to be imposed by entities supplying water for commercial or industrial use:
Tariff for supply and management of water.
Exemption from ban on extraction of groundwater.
Provided, however, that the charges for supplying water by entities for drinking, domestic and agriculture purposes shall be as per the policy of the Government notified from time to time.
(2) The tariff order issued by the Authority shall be duly implemented by the concerned entities within the time stipulated by the Authority.
(3) The Authority may fix different tariff depending on the category of use, location, class of users or other relevant factors, as the Authority may deem fit.
(4) The tariff shall be determined by the Authority in such manner, as may be prescribed, and shall be based on the principles of economy, efficiency, equity and sustainability. As far as possible, the tariff shall be based on volumetric measurement of water consumption and shall be designed to ensure economy in its use.
(5) The Authority may with the approval of the Government, fix charges for extraction of groundwater by any person but no charges shall be levied on extraction of water by households drawing water for their own drinking and domestic purpose through non-energised means or through a pump up to 2 Horse Power from a single tube-well in the household where common piped water supply is not available.
(6) While fixing the tariff, the special requirement of disadvantaged and economically weaker sections of the population of the State shall be duly considered and the policy of Government in this behalf may be adhered.