Andhra Pradesh Ground Water (Regulation For Drinking Water Purposes) Act, 1996 (Act No. 7 of 1996)

DISCLAIMER: This document is being furnished to you for your information by PRS Legislative Research (PRS). The contents of this document have been obtained from sources PRS believes to be reliable. These contents have not been independently verified, and PRS makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or correctness. In some cases the Principal Act and/or Amendment Act may not be available. Principal Acts may or may not include subsequent amendments. For authoritative text, please contact the relevant state department concerned or refer to the latest government publication or the gazette notification. Any person using this material should take their own professional and legal advice before acting on any information contained in this document. PRS or any persons connected with it do not accept any liability arising from the use of this document. PRS or any persons connected with it shall not be in any way responsible for any loss, damage, or distress to any person on account of any action taken or not taken on the basis of this document. The Andhra Pradesh Ground Water (Regulation For Drinking Water Purposes) Act, 1996 Act 7 of 1996 Keyword(s): Drinking Water Purposes, Ground Water, Over Exploited Watershed, Public Drinking Water Source, Public Water Supply System, Sink, Water Scarcity Area, Watershed, Well T'iR A.'illl!RA PRADESH ·GROUND WATER (REGULA~ . TION FOR DRINKING WATER PURPOSES) ACT, \996. ACT No. 7 OF 1996. [1th Fe bruary, 1996] Ail ACT TO UGUJ.I.Tl! THE. EXPLOITATION OF GROUND WAT!ll\ FOR THE · PROTECTION OP PUBLIC DRL'lKING WAT'.BR . SOIIRCES A."ID !<!ATTJ!R:s CON11ECTEJ) · THERl!WITH OR INClDEN:l"AL ''HERETO. BE/ it e:nac.:ed ·oy,- the. Legislative .AsSembly of the State 0£ Artdhra P:radesh fa. the Fox:ty-sevellth Yei!lr of :the Republic of, Ir,dta, 8:8 :foUo;ys: Shqrt t1t1e~ 1. (l) 'I'his Act may be called -1:!\~ exten't.and An<lJ.i:r,q · Frildesh- GrotlI'I~ W~t:er.- {Regu.18ti ()n ccmmence ·.fo,: Dril:lKing Jiat,tn~ -Purposes) Act:,. ~9-96.. ment. ;Recei"ved 'thei assent of the Gove/nor {lfi the 'iti , Fe.bru&r.Y, ·1996, F'or' Ste.tenient of objects andite'asons: .. . Pi e.ise -see Atidhra Prad!.!sh Gazett e, •Part' iv-A. Extl"ll­ ,ofd1nat}', 'dated the 4th. Hay, 1995 ·at· Page· Hi. 29 30 ('.2)- It Uter1;ds to .the whole of ';;he St;at~ of ·Am;ihrs P:radesh& (3)· .:t sh~ll tfflme into force on sce:h­ tnlte and in sPcn local area of the sta~e · ~- th~ State .Governmel\t· may, by noti£ica­ tio'n, appoint, and Qifferent - dates· may be appointed for different loeal areas. j • . • aerin'.lt::kma 2,. - Ill thi,e•- Act, .unless the · ., c:Ont.ext·otherwise· requir-es,-. '. " . . · ·, ~ (l) .,"apprOp:t'iate' AU~horityfl means :the-. District Cbllec;tt>1:-· a.n:J .i.ncludeir .-any offi·cer not ·below the,· rank of a N.andal Rev~nuC · Offiou, As thti ·State Goverilment.· may· ~Y notifioatior( i'n the O.Ei:iciaJ. Gazette, appoint fo;r: t.he purpos'es -of this Aet and different officers may be appoi:.i.ted for different. local . areas· of the- St.ate; (2) ·.,or:tri:d.ng watr:1:- pui·poses" meur,s corisumptioJ::l or Ut'te of \.1,r1tf::r · D:1 h,1:nan popuh,.t5.011 tc,r Jxi:11;.h); ntl<'i for 01:n':t't: · 6:o,r.es t.:~ c pt; r::,:-:ir:-,~1 s ~. a1;'1 .i nc 1 1,1:J.e s cons .,,,,,,p-· \:3.t1a1 ;;:,£ \·.fat('!.~- J.'n:.: s,fa":i.1.1i1: Pltch rc:.lcv,;';'<,. pnrp:::.~,, r.: .1.:::-., • •::,. ·-. 1:..' >..1 ; :t,,:;:;~'..c;:1;·.1.,:::.::., :;", ;.·,:.".:' thi• ~,>,;:r ;;:,oses of L'.• ". cl,.v .. ~[,,., ':..>'-' . ,·,:;·1:: ;,t:-::;.t•Jl• '!d:om:•sr:.:•~ p::,:.: r:1< ::, ;-,,~. :- ~1,:. ; -~. •.h''.\J ·-1,~ ,., :•r.-•.";.::u;·r,p• •. :\: ;1 ~:x , .;..'<'•· 1-:"'.e: ""'"':!:.~;:· '·.;~;: .. ·:.<·Y..i1:,,.-, :;.0.::'.'.iWi;;l."•.1.s,hj,· ·.: ~·i.ec,;;,i.•s ~Ad. t!: '.:·-.,:: f;;,y ·.;.r; ,i,1y c.ctivi c .... ~ : 3 ; • ,:-;, :,, . ..:,. 1,,,, ,e;.1•.:. • :,:\<:;:.":1\S tfo::.: Gov~:-;1.~ ... · ~-~­ o/C. r.l.rt:I;tr:,'\ ~£, .. " · •,n ( <'; ; • '~'!J. ~ .. ~,·H> :-:,,t,v: i '.h!;',>.•1~ WlltrJ.'.' .:,n:: $ • 1 .. Ln9.i<1. ,;,~~ ..-~,:;qu:i.:.'.J$.:·bt.I<,:••·. ~ho su;:{';.c-q ,·.d: Che gr,.,:•und e.t. r .. ~,y p<:trt.ic,;J.n:c J,ocati.:;;,r;. ,.;f r 31 ~'ri.e local area regardless of the geologi­ ca.l structUre i:n ·which it is stationary or moving and includes all ground ·water res:ervo:irs" tS) "notiliCiltion"~means, ·a llotifiea tion publZShed- in ·'th~ , Andht.'a Fradesh ··qazette and the word· "nOtified". shall he .construed accordingly; (6). llOV°a:c 'explo.t.tnd Watershed"" means .a · water'sh.tfd "WhEi1;e. the tiSt.imated· annual groUn:a "·wat.~i--~ ext:r:agt;ion · ia rru;,,re than eighty five :: p~~-~~n~>o~ · t.h~ , estimated av-erag.e annual ground ·water recharge., calculated in- .th·e. prescrib!i:d· maJ!ner, and dec~ared .is i;;:uch · ur.der section . 6, ; (7) ~.£r ru;i..e6 •p.L't1'$t~:r:1i:ied" meam:f" p,:e·scrihed :U~ae U'llcm: this Ae~i . {8} 11 pnbllc :a:i::{.t:king water '.so'.'rce" means a well, from which t',2 G~v;;;:r.i.1m.eni: or a local ilutho:c.ity or m.1cct, · t.Hh~n: ,::uthod. ty aS the Govf:t:t1ne.-:t 1,1.3.,y t :i ·q~·~.lfi.;;,:k t.icn · sp;t:ci'fy, ;;rovL:1:;;,c ~,;,:i,t-,i,~ .:c H,>'.": public er:d l,,.•;:;.t,:des s-..: .. :: Wt.':l~. ,re· d?l!' o~he:::: a·,;-.!-,n.~:~11,-,, ;;;:it\:':.: 1:,cu•.c.,i:; ·.;:.~ c,,-,,,, ;• 2,.:: ri.oti.fi12d bi <:i~:- P;pL~i,.>,:n:i.:·'.:-:-, Au-t!,,-, .. :., /: {S:. ,t,l)<,l:1:~1 .. ~ ::.-:::-;,: ·,;,:.;;i;;:,l.:{ ;::; ,, .• : - ;-, ,,; mear.s the sLC:·1., . .:;tU1:ec; , <'!~ =5·::.~1.cr t,,:, ;; :,,~i,1-ie d:::i:·,king watc~ i>?,in-:-,;:;:, .'.ric] t~'.::;.,:9 ,·;;;'·,,,v,.y-· ·i:-1.g pip,=J.:i.r.,,, ,:.;~0..::1~," .c~=:'.~;;·,..:i}.1•, :;;'~:-:-,,: pot,'C, -.:i:.:.tern, <.v:.i:d r·.:::1\:'. ·"-:;·7B.;: ?'-'"'P ,.1,, i all ,c,th,ir n,i...t.-'.•J:'iJ;;\s ·co;;,•,,:;e::·;;.,zJ :::,1·.:::-, .. ·.,:: th.r:-v•J<f• ·.,,hit.::·, ;,:.0~1:>c:~r i;:; dri::-:.k.ing w-=':e.c :----<r.:u,:,,;,-,:; {lC) ''-:: .. ;.,,k" ;1ith z.ll its gi·:,it, .. ~,,; k.a.l.. va.=iativr.s •'3.!H.i co,,r,Q.te ~,-;p:-:escL1n.:;; .in relation t.c a. ..,-ell h.cluO.es any dr.:i.:liing, • 32 boring, or digging of a new deepening carried out, . to an well; l ' well or existing (11} 1:te!chnical · "officer" means a G~ologist in tt,.e Clffi(.:'e 0( .the' State Ground Water t>epartment not ~~;t.ow the. rank of an ~ssistan·t . Hydro-geol-<>gistf Assistant Gee-physicist or equivalent;· · (12) 'lwater ·scarcity· uea• ineanff-an:­ area deOlared as suCb'by the Appropriate Authority under section 4; · {13} 01watershed"· means an area confined· withfn~·- thE! topographic water •divide li,ne, as: identified and notitied by the Ground Water Department from time to time basin~( · rf!g'ard to the purposes of this Act; - ·· (14} ... well" means a well ·sunk for the search for an extraction o.f ground water arid includes a dug WI.all, ,bOre well du~-cum-bore well 1 tube wetland filter po.1.nt. · CHAPi'BR•Il: PROTECTION Mf'...ASOlIBS FOR PUB~IC DRINKING WATER SOURCES Licences 3. ( l} Mot~1iths.tu11ding anytl)iilg con...: to dl3 tained ,in any raw .fox. the: t.:i.f!tl:) being in P-lls etc. force and ha\•i11,1 rBgard to the interests of the general publl.c to have the supply of r,.:,ql.Jisite guar,'..-:it1-; of water fol: drink-. ing purposes from the public dxinking water sourcer no person subject to sub­ sec~ion (2) shall sink any. welX for' any ,Purpose in · the·- vicinity of a ~public drinking water source· within a distance of two hundred metres it it is a source \· ' L I 33 with Hand pump ox open well~ and within a d1stance 0£ two hundred and fifty metres if the source is used with a power Driven Pump~ Explanation:- £'Qr the purposes pt this section and section S, the wqrd 'person' does not include Government. or ,,..,y i•Lhe1: authority under statute. (2) Any perSon,: ~ho intends to sink•·a · well for purposes of irrigation or ~rink-, ing or for any other purposes within a distance'of two hundred metres or as the oase may :be five hundred metres of a public drinking w~ter source shall apply for pexmission to the appropriate autho-' .rity in such manne'r and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed. ( 3) 'l'he appropriate authority on. receipt o f an· -application under sub­section (2) may, on ·the itdvic-e of the­Technical Officer, for reasons to be .recorded in writing, gr·ant permission for the• sinking ·•of a well for• irrigation or drinking water pu·rpose, if h~· is satisf,ied that.· such sin~ing shall not adversely affe9"t· tbe publ:ic .. qrinking water sou,rce. or refuse ·to g,i:aiiit•• per­mission if · such ·sinking- af.feCts' such source ;idversely; , · · Provided· that if > th~ · aP.propriate authority fails to infoi'ni the applicant 0£ his decision within ··n·.1ltet~ -.. days from· the date of. receipi.;. of . the appli~ tion . . th'fl permission ap:rli,e'd ,for, sha.11 be deemed to have, beiin granted but such permiss'!Oi) · shall always be. subject to SllCb conditions as ·may be orescriben. ., ' { ,f) Ever,Y, Permission granted unde·r sub-section (3) ,shall be subject. to t.h.e condition that the appropria~e authority 1560'/3 Power to .t.clam water =city area. 34 aay fo.i: t4~ reasons to h"'l ?: ~cc:- :t:31 i11 ~iting, by order,· p:rohib!:tt ;~~9:.:-:-.;..,;,t or .regulatt? trcim t1jne to time tl'~e <a(ts:actiou· ~f water f:om such we!l• it in "hi~ opinion :.t' is net,":essary, to do so i:1: the public · .i.nterest ·and- -also such .Jther conditio·1s and r-estricti.cns as may :be prescrib1.!d. 4 • ·cl} If, at anY time during the course of monsoon or thereafter, the appropriate authority. on tile advic1?: of the Technica1 Officer having regani to tbe quemt.Wii. ant! pattern of ra i nfall and · any otbe.r relevant factor, is of the view · th~t the pubJ.ic drinking water sources in any az-ca of the district are littely to be ;:,fit:eted advsrsely, he may. by order, deolare such arua to· be water scarcity are~ tor such p"'.ri.od as raay be specified in the ordez buc not exceeding or,a vear. at a time. Tue ''h;-.chnl~!i:il Officer shali also· verify the ra.1.ntal.l data and sha:;.: observe regular ~!at;;:::: level fluct~~tion5 of the area. • ( 2} The a9prc~riatc eu:,t:o.r.ity ·m<?.y, during the w;,.t.er scarcity peri-od as decla:rM ~r:de.::: sub-secti:;,r. (l} ~ by "'.cder regulatt.· the e:-:t.=-action 0£ ·~·:atei:: from any well in. st-:h area by i:-estricting or prohibi,;iri9' sui:;h .. ex:trnc>:.ion tor any pllrpose 0·;;;:her i..hZin for -el:dn.kt,n~ wate.1,; purpose,. '.where su.ch well is ,. •ithiri. a. distance,'of o-ne· ,k:;loroetr-= of t:,e public drinkin~t!-wa.tt:'i: ''.~<>-U"kc~; Prov£9'ed ·tna~, for the pU~pose ot such·:rei&iation Under this sec'C.ion, (a')~- the ;;a.~e 'i}· within one kilornet;te :from tfje, pU:i:tt.l§·· drinking water ,source shall be divided into zo'nes as may be advised by,\ :F,tie 'l'echniciill Officer and the I 35 Priorities r'eferred· t.o clcillses (b) ·ariCf (<;} ... Slia1r-b·~- tak:.i?!.. into- considera­ tion for fixing the pri~rities; {b) the well, not be.ing the well from which water j;s used for t.!1e stand­·ing irrigated• crops·, which is nearei:e th.ia public . drinking water so\lr-ce shall :"':-~ considered as .the t:i tst priorH.:1; 1• cC) the .well., wate::- ,:row, whit·b. 1£: being u,sed for the sttJ.nd:..n·-r irri)'?.'C~d c.rop shall, as fa"r as prac ;:i.r.:1h1. ;i may be, taken last. in the· priority. ( 3) Tha order imposi.~iq i;t :h r!iSLr.i.c:.. tion or prohibitio;.1. 1-mder ·~~1/;,;•-sect.io::;. Z) sflall be: served or cau::,s'.::; i:..-:: be s-~;;c- ·ed personally by deli ve:r:i:~(} O!'." tend~.::'."· o::g the sama to the own~r ,:.F t.h(:' ·.,. ell atJ.,:,f.H>t fifteen days !Jeio:cE:~ '.-is:, t:omrr-,:ncement· .:;:: the orders c,f rest;:-i,~',: io:'1 or. ;i:;:oh.\.tit·•.-c, as the !!:a.se rray !;e ~ ···- P.1::-ovid2d •:ha~: ·.,::· .. 1:.'-·e 'Che 01,-~1,:;·c •:'f..'/ ·i,.;,t Ce fn:.:in:i:, CH< ;c , ,;·.':hei:.tic "C(.""'.h" .;:;:.'.: not:i,:.::" may i~r: •1;.::1.·c·<·l'.; ::in a,1y C:..<t:·it .-;e:::•-:: of "!:.i:ie ;:~u,,:i 2.'.r' •. 1~1 th~- cu.s·e c·t ::.:•.- Oxd ,:::· aff.8..:::U.119 ·t.h:~ co::: -;;s,ration or s ;;:-:r:n, .. L~: shi:.ll b,:! 3•:.:t.·\''.>c:', :~n the rnam~,s;: f.:y~ ths: seJ:01ic-::. -~<:: t' .:-:"111.n\onS in rul::;, ::-,:;: O·:d-.;:i· XXIX -~1::- ::-;;).[";;• 3 ot craer xx.x -~---~- ,. ;.1: Ci?.SE: ~-,,trl'J. A::.t ;, m,:;:i b.;:: i1·, ;-:t,;, ~:~.rst Scfied·ule -C..:, ·,:'.:'. ci.,,:3.e ~:, • .l9~J.'L of C5:,•.i::. 1,~·y;.;.d 1n:-e, 1908. 5 ·(J.) l'h::a a.pprOpriate authv...:Hr· may, J.,ec:J.a.rat:l.on 01 on -.;:h::, at.,,ice of the Technical or::.ice:c, Uot-t:ershed as decl,;.x.-e a watershed as ov:er e,q· ! cited o-..er cxploita-Hat~t'=:r",t:~rJ ~ t.-to11. { i!) Notwithstanding anythinQ c~ntai­ned in ·an i law for- the time bein.g in fore.a and ~·ha~i~f ·-rega~d t!=l: tlie. -p~ime ni?ed of 36 water ·for drinking water purpoi:ie·stof'~"jthe human beings and in the interests ,of the 1 general public to have the supply of requisite quantity· of water for drinking water purposes from the public drinking. w~ter source ·in the over exploited water• shed,· rio person shall," without the permlssion of the appropriate authority, sink well within the ·area Of an over exploi tea watershed., (3)° Jl..n application for permission ·under sub-section ( 2) shall. be made ·to the approp·riate authority in su~h form and· accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed. \4J -Every permission .granted under this section shall be subject to, (a) .the condition that the appropriate authority may for the reasons. to· be °recorded in ~ri ting by order · prohipi t, restrict or regulate the extraction of water from sUch. well for such period as may be specified in such order, if in his opinion it is necessary to do so in the public interest; (b) such other restrictions as may be conditions prescribed. .Prohibition 6 (1) The appropriate authority may, of exploita- oil the advice of the Techni6al Officer, · ,uon of water. that any existing well in ~he arP.a of over exploited watershed is found to be adversely affecting any public drir king water source, and notwithstanding any­ thing ccintaineci in any law for ~he time b~inq in force and also having regaii to 37 ~he quantum., and pattern of .,,..iainfal l and any other relevant factor after giving the owner - a r9asonable opportunity of being heard by an order, prohibit the extraction of water. f:r;om -~such well during the ·period as speci fied ~y tbe collector based .on the advice ·of the Technical Officer fr(?m the 1st February to 31st July in an year. . ( 2) Notwithstanding anything, contai­ ned in any · law· for the time being in force and · in othE!r provisions of this ACt, the appropri'ate authority,· on the advice of the Technical ·Officer that any existing well in the · area of an over expioi ted .watershed · is found to b8 adverse!}" affecting· ally -pllblic drinking water source and if such ·source '"'cannot be adequately protected by action under sub-section. (l} ·may after giving the owner of such watershed- a reasonable ?PPC? r tunity of being heard, by a~ order require him to stop the extraction ··of water from and close or seal off, such well. forthwith either temporarily or permanently, having ~egar4 to the extent to which it is adyersely affecting. (3) Wheneve~ it is neCess~ry to make an intj:uiry or e:x;amination in connection with· the protecticn · of a pubiic drinking· water source or with the maintenance of a public Water supply s }'stem, the appropriate au~hority. or ~ny officer duly authorised oy him in ·ti:,.is behalf. may after giving p.·ior notice to .the owner or occupier of any land,-- · (al· enter 1.pon such ·1and as he ·may think necessary for the said purpose; (b)-undeita··."e surveys ~i: take levels th!=reon; · 38 ( c; conduct. pumping tests and geo­ physi=al $Urv~ys; {U) conduct .-:el"l logging on the te) install und ma.intain l 'l'lvels :recorder anti water 9uages v;-2.J.; -~ !f) do all sucb other things bn. riecttssary for: the prosecution i.·1gui ry and exam?,.nation. water on the as !nay of SUOh (4) Notwithstanding anything e:ontained in .sub-sections . (l.L t 2J and {3)., the approp1::iate authority may~ on t.he: advice of the Technical Office:c·~ in any u,:ban area issue an order; · (i) prohibiting extraction of hi'lter for sale from an over exploited \I ater so~rce/acauifier aeplet.ing the fUblic or pr.ivit~ water source~- a?d {i • .f:Eec ~~?g supply of water fer domestic tlsage, or; {ii) rest=icting t~e drawal of •;·i:rmncl \·11;!.te~ · withir:. · the · prerr,ise:s of 1·,::.lt.i-st.o;:eyed b~ildings fQ£ domestic ;,sas-e:. ae iiu- 7 ( l) Wherever it appears ·to . the !tt-·~~on e.t:r.:~ a1 1i;:,ropriate authority. tl~at ar:.y -weU' has be-en sunk or is being sunk in cont.:raver.­ t ~on of the .provisions of th-4.s Act or w.ater h~s been extra,::,t~';!d or in being 1a<xt.rac:ted in contravl';!ntlo,1 of section tL the iipproprie.te al1thority o,: a:r.y officer duly authorised t. yibim i;'I thie beha;f .may: enter upon ,that lnnd/ ::e·move; obstruct.ion, if any~ close the. pumpJ.ng of t.h.e ,1at1:;r, d.isconngct power· supi,)ly , seiz'7 any r 39 1cat€rl.a.l or e'qu;t.p::nent USed in coniie~n. with such extraction of water •and take any such action,·. as tiaY be required. to' stop sUcb actioni and may by· o:rdu require the own~r or the person in posse$sion of the well to close or seal off the well at nis expenses and in such manner as the appropriate authority may specify in such cx:!i!er and such owner. or person shall comply with such Order. ~ (2) Where such owner or per$Ol1 fails to comply'with• any order made under sub« section (l)J the approp:ri~te· authority may after giving such owner or person due not.'icC: in that. .behalf enter upon the land and cJ,ose or seal off the well and the c'ost incurred therafor shall be recoverable from such owner or pe~$on as an arrear of land revenue. 8. Where an 01:der of permanently ?uy.-W.lt: of closing down or sealing- off t.he vell, cor;:~­ which is giving substantial yifald and tJ.0:1~ whi.eh i:s really useful for irrigating any land or for an industrial ·use~ ii:: made under section 6, the Collector may on making such enquiry and requiring the owner to produce such eviden~e as he may deem necessary, make an oider · for · payment ot com;;:ensation whi.t.:!h shall nOt be less Chan the market value of the '. well including oth er expenditure incurred like energisation thereon and E>trUcture thereon and the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 with Central. Ac,. r~gard to the dlitermination of compens3-i0f 1894. t1.on for the well situated in a land · aequii-ed., s1?,all apply ill determining the . market. value of the· well under this section: 40 rrovided that, where an order under section 6 relates to temporarily closing down or seali ng off a well, water from which is used for the irrigated crops standing at the time of · making such an order. the compensatio?} for su~h. crops shall-, also be payable under this section: Provided fUi=ther that. 1 , where· by ~irtue of an order made under section. 6 any well which is permanently closed or sealed off is, for any reason wha~soeval"I allowed to be opened for extracting water therefrom any subsequent order made for permanently closing· , down or sealing of such we1 1 -~g~i:n shall ,not ·entitle the · owner - thereof to claim compensation for such W!:;!11~ Bar to cl.aiJ. 9. ::- Subject· to th~- PrOvisions of compensation. section ~ ~ no person shall. be entitled to claim any damages or compensation f.rom the Government for any loss sU.stained . by him as a result 0£ any order passed under· sub-section { 3) -of section 3 Or under - section 6 - i:lr · section 7 or by virtue of ~y action taken under this Act. CBAPTER--Il:I MISCELLANEOUS 10 · (1) Any Person aggrieved by any or~ei ritade by th e appropriate authority under~ny- of the provisions of the Act may# within a- perio~ of thirty days from the date 0£ receipt ,of' the or.der by him, ~ppeal to tbe collector, if the order is. ~e by any officer other than· the Collector and the Commissione-r of L.and Revenue if the order is mad~ by the • 41 Collector. pn receipt of such appeal; the appellate authority shall after giving. a reasonable opportunity to the appellant of being heard and permitted . to "lead evidence pass such order as he may think -fit. Every ordei. made by the appellate authority in such appeal shall be - final and shall not be called in question in any court .• Explanation: :For the purpose 0£ .. this sub-section the e xpressiOn "person aggrieved". includes a local authority the P~nchayat Raj Engineering Department/ State Ground Water Department and any other agency or authority,, entrusted with Xhe resporisibility of supplying drinking water. · · i 2} Before gi Ying any decisiOn in' such appeal, the appellate authority. shall obtain the opinioµ of the geologist .of ~anChayat Raj Department or Regional Officer of· the State Ground water Department and shall take the same also into consideration. ( 3} The" ~eologist or Regional Officer.', 5-f::ate .. Ground Water Department shall forward his opinion . to ·the appellate authority within ·two months from the ·date of.receipt by him of a reference in that behalf. (4}° save as ottie"rwise ·provided in sub-section ( 1} , every .order made and every direction issued under this Act shall be final ahd shall · not be called in question in· any court-. 11 ( l} No suit; prosecution · or other PrOtection of lega~ Proc7e~ings shall lie against ~my action taken in pubh.c servant or person appointed or good fai.~b. 42 authorised und~.1.---this Act in resp.e'Ct",.:of any thing wh:i:ch is in gco d faith done or intended to be Cone under this Act or in pursuance of any order made or direction issued under this ACt .. · (2) No suit~ or other legal proceed~ ings shall lie agai'1st the State Government or any officer of the State 1 Government for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under tbis Act or in p-U.J;'SUance of any order made or di~ection issued under this Act Offences and 12 .. (1} Whoever contra,.~enesany, of the Punishment:;,. provfsioi..s of t.liis Act or cbst.l'.'ucts any pers·on in the itlischar.ge of his dui:ies uqdex thii:; Act 'Or contra-;;:ene:S any order or violates any rule made under this Act shall',.· on conviction·J, be punished with imprisot'lment which shall not be :Less than ona month but may ext::.enct to six months with fine ·which .shall not be less th~··one thousand rupees but may extewi to five thousand rupees or with botn. . . . autl\J;l,,.y, ~~~:;:!: a1~~;;no;;· obs~~~:; any part of· a public water supply system ~ shall on conviction he punishel with .. imprisonment, whi ch !>hall not be less , than· two months· but may extdnd to one, year dr with ,fµe which. ~hall not be • . less than two thoqsand rupees but. may ext,i!nd tu five thousand X'1<1pees or with botho ' . 43 ( 3) In the case of a eortinutn(j offence, the offenae:rs shall be p·:,mishOO w.i ~h an additional f:ine whicr" may extend to rupees one hundred for, itver,:it da:I i;!'.lrJ.ng which fnu:i; c:,ffaoce con1:inues ;:;ft,s;r the:.· conviction·: · 13, fl} Subject t.o the ru).(<s, lf an~, Serdu of made iii tM. 'J behalf e':!ery notice or notice · ordar isc•Jed unde:t this Act may be served elther by tendta..cin(J or dsli\'.ering a Copy thereof or by post to ths:; pa.i;-.s.:in, on whom it. is · served either by tende::cing or deli'1erir.g ~- copy thereof or by j;:OSt tc: the r,erson or. whom it is tote:: se:r.-red or his a:.,tho::-iscd ag~nt or if ser,riees in the. m~.nner ·-afor1=.~uid cam':::it "!:I~ ,r;s.Qe by a!tixing ,a cupy the.:reo£ at :,i& last kupwn place or residence cir at: su::-h place of pubJ.ic re~ort in the vil 1.ag1;: in which the l.ar:.d or well to which the notice or crder r2lates is situated. { 2 j NC, su~b. nr.,tice shall bs deemed ,mi~ OT! accou."!t 0£ any erro.t" in ~he ni'l..me c,r designation qf any person in the dehcripti-:,r; ;:,£ any land or weJ 1, y·efexred t.:i -therain unless sur.:h G1•1:or hai produced ·su:-;stari.t:lal · inju.stice~ l4z The Provi-s!<ms of this Act shall 0-i!ieu.t~· have e.ffect not"Witb-Stal1-airi9: ;;inything tt) affect. · t.he contrary co11tained in any other l~w for the tiffie being in force. 15• CU The Go,;err,rnent may, hy not:ifi- P-ci.ra? to-: catiun make rnles. for carrying out all 1'll1lke- ru.1e5. o:r an:y of t.be purposes. of this. "Act~ • 44 { 2) E.very rule made, under this Act shall immediately after it: is made, be laid before .the Legislative Assembly O,f the State if it is in session and ,if it is not in session, in thC; session imtnedia­ tely following for a total perioq of fourteen day~ which may be, comprised in one session or . in two successive sessions, afid if before · the expiration of the session in which it is" so laid or tbe · session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly agrees in making any modification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule t the rule shall# from the date on which.,. the modification or annulment •is notified, have effect only iO such modified form or shall stand annulled, as the ·case may be, so however that· any s.uch modification or ,annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything preViously done under that rule. G ~ BHAVANI. PRASAD~ Secretary to Government# Legislative. Affairs~ Law Departinent •