Water Resources Act 1969 (Act No. 15)

t!CTIO;-l ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS J>/\Jff I PRELIMlN,\ltY l. Short 1i1!e 2.' Jnicrprctation PART 1I OWNEllSfllP OF AND INHERENT RIGHT TO THE US!! OF WATER 3. Ownership ant\ control of pllb)ic water '4. W11tcr Rcsot1recs Board 5. Prohibition ofti.~c of w11tcr except with lawful authority 6. \tigh\ \o rnhlic w.1\1.'.r for domcs\ic p11q)o:<;es 7. No prcst:ri pti vc r-igli 18 tu u~c ur \I'll lcr PA flT Ill RECORnlNG Or EXISTING R,rnrrs 8. Notification of ~xisting rights '9. 1-,,lini~tcr to record cxi.~ting rights PART JV GHANT OF ,v ATER RIGHTS JO, Grant of water righls l'AltT 'I REVISION, 1/ A!!f,'.TJO/J, DEH:ltMINAT!0N AND DfMINIJT!Oh oi; \VArut R1rnrr.~, Pou,unoN of Pu11uc \VATUR , JJ. Suspension or variillion of water rights on account of drougl1t ·12. Di!h!rmilla!ion or diminution of rights when.: wuter required for pub lie p1u pose !J. Where quanlity tmspccilicd Minister may specify quanltty 14. Di:termination for breach of a condition 15. DL'.tcnnina(ion or diminution for tHHH1se !6. Po\\111i01:. of public wale\' L.11.0. 1/19S/J 2 LAWS OF l\flLA.\Vl Wmer Hesources MtsCEU.ANtOI.JS Powmts 17. Powa lo crl'.,1\-.!, ~m,cmcnt 18. Right to t:all for information 19. Power to inS\)Cd W<)(\:..~, ~.l<:.. 20. Power to require dcmolilion of unlawful works 21. Pow;;:r to eslahli:,;h hyt\rumcti;;oro\ogknl stations ud)mdlii1 surveys 22. Occhirntion of contrnlletl area PART VU 1Vl ISCl:il. LANJ.70US 23. Service of notices 24. Rcgldations 25. Penalties 'l6, Olhcr ws CHAPTER 72:03 WATER RESOURCES n of \%'J An Act lo urnkc prol'ision for rhc coulrol, conservation,•~ 2: ~f {~{~ meut imd use of the water resources of l\h\\av.·i nnt\ fOf pmpllll inci1lcnh1l !hereto and connected !herewith Slwrt title 1111i::rprcta li011 PART I PsmLU,IINAlt y [3no NovarBII.·.H' 1. This Act may he died .ts lhc W.iter Resources Act. 2. ln !his Act, unless the context otherwise requircs "doo1est1c puqmses" includes the provision of water for ho~ and sanitary purposes ,rnd for the watering and dippircM stock; "casement" mc,rns ,1 right to enter on the Jan<l of ano1J1erf(l(il'li1 purpose of c.oas\rncHn,!; or mtttntaining works tl\C:tcOC,j; tf storing lhe waJcr thereon or carrying water under, ~ or over such fom.l, or for nil or any of such purposes; "existing right'' mcalls any right to public w,ltcr-~ {a) which at the commcnce1nent of this Act lw.:;tt.ocn. lawfully acquired, is possessed by, and is being ~ exercised by, ,my person; Ot .,iubfic waler" means all water flowing over the s.urface of the ground or contained in or /lowing from any river, spring or Jtream or natural Jake or pan or s.wamp or in or beneath a watercourse and alt underground wa!cr but excluding any stagnant pan or swamp wholly contained within the houndaries of any private land; llitderground water" means water naturally stored or flowing :.below the surface of the ground and not necessarily apparent 'on the surface or the ground; r21er right" subject to the provisions of section 8 includes any txi.~ting right; ~ks" includes canals, channels, reservoirs, embankments, ·. weirs, diverslons, dmns, wells ( other than hand operated ;wells), boreholes, pumping installations, pipelines, sluice gates, filters, sedimentation tanks or other works constructed for or in connexion with the impounding, storage, passage, drainage, con\ rnl, use or a bst rnct ion of public wa \er, or the development of water power, or the filtration or purification ·or public wate,·, or the protection of rivers and streams against erosion or siltation, or the protection of any work or in connexion witll or for flood control or the conservation 'of rain water. 1)ART l1 r{l\VNl:RSHIP OF AND INHERENT RIGHT TO THE USE OF WATER (l) The ownership of all public water is vested in lhc Owi1trnhlp ~dent. nnd control of public Tl) The control of a!! public water is vested in the Minister and water ~ control shall be exercised in accorda11ce wilh tlte provisions 'of this Act. ,,l:..{l) There is hereby established a Board, to be known as the Water Resources Board, which shall, subject to any special or Jfuera! directions of the Minister, exercise such powers and ;ir!om1 such du!ics ns are conferred or imposed on it by this ife}., or as ll1e Minister may, for \he better carrying out of the 1jmposes of this Act, by writing onder his hand, delegate to it. n'(l) Any of the powers conferred or duties imposed on the Water lcromccs Bop,n\ under tlfr:: Act, may. unless \he Minis\er other ~lso dircd.~, liy re:it1 I 11 ( iirn n r ! lie Bon nL h1i d~ l~g.i led t (,} n n y bber of the Board or to any committee, body, authority or Pffl-O!l. Water Resourcc.<1 Board [,.R.O. 1/1070 l'rol1ihition Of US,: {lf W.ih:r cxci:pl willt h1wf1il nuthudty !tight lo publi<.: wafer for ((orncstic purposes No p1c ~d1\1.i,.,e rilc'.hh tu use of 11-11 icr IVarer Resource8 0) 'fhe provisions or the SchedLllc hereto shalt have ct,"nct~ to the constitution and prnccedings of, and olherwis.e io rdlltinll to the Board. 5.--( I) Subject as hereinafter provided, no person ihall ~ dam, stor\;, abstrat:l or use public water or for any such~ construct or mai111ain nny works except ill accordance -.it! w,1\i::r righl graukd or dl.'.l'.lll1.'.d In be gn1nkd U!Hkr thh Mt; l'rovlded !hat 11011\ing in \lib ~cclion shall pceVClll lhc ~ of public wnter f()r lighting lir~s. · · (2) Any person wllo diverts, dams, stores, nbstracts ·or.-~ pllblic water or who, ror any such purpose constn1cts or~. any works except under ,ind in acr:ord,mcc with the proviuonteit' th is Act and of ony other writ ten 111 w slia!I be guilty of an o!fa• 6.~( l) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) anf~'. having lawful access \o public water may ,\bstrnct and u11e: lfttit snmc for <lonicstic pL!rposes: Provided 1hul nothing in ihis subscc1ion slrnll authorim.B conslrnction or any \VOrks. (2) Where in the opinion of ihc Ooard the use nf pubtic'· •izdct for donn:s! ic pmp11s<.'.s al any plate is causing damage to the nabJtlll resources of lite arc.i in th~ vicinity oftbat place, it may,byM4.ic:itq writing served 011 any person making use of the water at ihal p44C!i\ direct that s.uch 11crson Hikes such me,1surcs as may be spccificdiil the notice for the purpose of avoiJing or mitigating suchda• (3) Without derogating from lhe genernlity of the pro~ of subsection (2) a notice given in accordance with that subso::tio.i! may direct that ,my user of wah:1: at ,.1ny place ~ha!! not water.~ than the number of .stock iipeClhed tn the notice or th;i.t ~o 'ffllO\I than a stated m1rnber of stock may be watered at that plate~~ tbat not more than a stated gallonage may be abslracted. (4) Any person failing h) comply with a notice given in a~ ance wilh subsection (2) shul! be guilty of an offence. 7, Nu pcrs~ 111 tih a I!, :ilk r I he commc 11cc111cn l of this:•'.~ ncquirc or bt dccnv.:d io lmv~ acquired any right, propcrtt. privikgc m- inkrcsl to divert, dam, :;~on~, nbstrnct or use aiiJ' ptiblic water by reason or length of use or elapse of time, and Iii conveyance, tease or other instrument shall be effectual to C00\1:l assure, dcmi:;c, tran.~f cr or vest i11 i"'" .. ·'- · 1.--(1) t:very person c1a1mmg an existing nght may, within six No!iftcation 111mths from the <lay on which this Act comes into operation, of cxisiing "' f · rights itutify the Minister o such claun. ':(1} Eve~ .cxistin.~ right sl.rn.11 <le!ennine if the p~rson entit led ktlo forl~ to m-.rdy I he M tnrnler m nccordancc with 1rnhscc11ou .(fl of the existence or that right before !he c.:xpirulion of 1l10 .lJmod allowed for notification: Provided thnt such notification shall not be required in the a;,c of a subsisting water licence issued by the Minister since the l,itApril, 1967, which licence shall be deemed to be a water right :iaoo:J under this Act. ;J;-{I) On the receipt by the Minister of a notification under Minister to ;,t..1ion 8 he :,,ha\\, after making such investigation as he considers r~o~d ';drisable, and if he is satisfied that an existing right has been ~~~ 1 t 1tt Jloved to exist, record !'iUCh right and issue a certificate in respect l!mof. {2) On the recording of an existing right in accordance with .,titbs(ction (I) !he existing right shall be deemed to be a water )iht gran led under I his Act. PART IV GRANT OF WATER RIGHTS )U.-{l) The Minister may grant to any person the right to Grant of ~,:rt, dam, store, abstract, or use public water from such. so\trces water right!! m such quantity, for such period, whether definite or indefinite, ioo for such purpose as may be specified in the water right, subject to such terms and conditions as he may deem fit. \1} Application for the grant of a water dght sh.an be made to :lftt llo;J.rd which shall give notice of the same in the prescribed )lanner. ~ (3) Any in !crcsJed person may notify the Board within such pcrioc\ us may be pr<.:M.:rioetl thal lie ob,lccls to lhc grnnl of 11 wnter right and shall specify the grounds of such objection, and shall, lbe so requires, hnvc a right to be beard thereon by the Bonrd. (4) The Board shall consider every application and any objcc~ lions made lo it in respect thereof and may, after consulting such persons and anthoritics, if any, as it may decide to consult, .robrnit Jhe applirntion together with its recommendations to the :Minister, and the Minister may grant or not grant the right in his 'iliscrcl ion. l..R.O. 1/1970 ~W','N:)l'>itm or vari,liioo of \lii[Cf rit~hls ou ni:c,)l!!\\ of dri:wght etc:. Dcrermim1 liou or 1\imi1111tion nf ri1;,M~ wl1crc 11-,llcr rcquir,!d for public f'llr!){)SC Where (]llillllHY u n5 peci fo.:J Miulsicr m,iy spc..ciry ittwnWy Detn111iu;1 tit,» r,-.,. l,A WS Of/ !\ !' r.A W( 01.p. 72:03 !Voter Resowccs JlA/U' V REVl-'i'.ION, VARIATION, DETf.\\M\t-l>.TlON ANO Oo,\\HUTH}N OF \VA'(ER HIG/JTS, Pm.LUT10N OF Pt.rJsuc WATi:H 11.-(\) Where in the opinion of the Minister 1he rupp! f:~ .. public water froin any snurcc or in any area is insufflcior;r.t «· likely to become insutHcif.-1\l, \he Minister may al any rime · from lime to time, by notice i1\ wriling 10 the holders of rights, suspend or v,1ry all or atly l'ights to abstract or use·· from that source, or in that area, for such period as he nia)" nc1.:-essary, und thereupon such d~hts shall ce,1sc fof 1he ptmr,4 ·. sn-,,pcm,h:in or \;hall be c-xcrcisab\c only as so varied, as tho · ·. may be. (2) N\) righi ii) t'omrv~11:.a\inn sh:1)} ,1risc or uccruc by.rcuo:n• the litbpcu:sion or vari,ttion nf a water ri£ht under lhis ~;,; · 12.--{l) Where the !vi i11is1er is- sa tisficd that public •>a.it,,:rlii}J req\1\red for a public purpose he n\8y, by notice in. •ri~laf addr~s~cd \() the linldcr of any water right, determine or~' that right to the extent thal. such water is require(\ for ilieafo,tllllil(: public purpose, and thereupon the right stmU -.:e.'1-:.e- or shll ~ exercisable only as so diminished ,is ibc c;1sc may be. ~ (2) A dcdaraUon in wriling \mder the hand of the .. J.f~ th<tt p1.1blic water is required for .t public purpose shaU be~ c\'1sive evidence of that fact. · (3) The holder of any right slwll be entitled to recch-c')imfi compensalion in respect of the loss resulting from 1he de~ f10l1 . or diminution of the rigl1t lllHkr !liis sccfion as mar.Ii ri:nso1111hk in nil lhe dn.::un1sta11ccs, .ind i11 the ;:tbscucc of~ mcnl the High Court shall d.el!.!nninc lhc ninount of such~ salion, · 13: When!; an)'. ri,g11t to tl~e. use of'an unspeci~e-d g·uan ~ pt1blic water S\\b-:.1sls, the lVhmstcr may at any tm1e specify di=! q1ianlity which winy Le used, and thcreafier \he wa\er right Wi ho deemed to be so va ricd : Provided that the Minister shalt, beforn so specifying ghi'dit' holder of the right the opportunity o( n,(~\:.ing representa~ thereon, and shall take into considerntio11 any such rep~ tions. Jlnfflter may ,1ccJare me ngnt 10 be dcrermme,1. i'JJ(at any time the Minister has reason to believe that the ~!Dfof a water right has not, during the preceding two years, j!:·full beneficial use of that right, he mc1y, after giving the &llli of the right opportunity of making representations, by iimic·w writing addressed to such holder and having regard to !lfijfustment in capital works and the Jong term national iffli6ts involved in the undertaking concerned" V) doclarc the right determined; or (l)declare t~e rig ht diminished .or modified in such respects f!JllitY be srcc1ricd 111 lhc declnnillon . Determim1.• \ion M diminution for non-use . ~l) Any person who, save under the authority of this Act Po!fution of ~ f;y-·othcr written law, intcrfcrcs with or ,1llers the flow of or rublic water l)ihtes or fouls any public water, shall be guilty of an offence. ,,- ·-J~r the purposes of l!~is scctio!1 the po)luting o r f~uling pblic water means t11e d1sc1rnrge mto, or m the v1c1111ty of . rife water, or in a place where public water is likely to flow, of llliJ'matter or substance likely lo cause injury whether directly or itidfrcctJy to public hcallh, livestock, animal life, fish, crops, ~ or gardens which are irrigated by such water or any p;b:t in the p~oc~s5i:1g of which ~uch wat~r is used or which ~ns, or which 1s likely to occasion, a nmsance. PART VI M ISCl!LLANl!Ol/S POWEIIS iMl) Where any person who is the holder of a water right ho has applied for the grant of a water right is unable fully ~ ~y the bcncfi t of the right without ~n eascn1ent and has fail.ed 1secure an easement by agreement with the owner or occupier Jthe land over which the easement is required he may apply to rftli'Board for the creation of such easement. ti)lJpon the receipt of any such application the Doard shall ~ notice of the application on the owner or occupier of the ~ over whi ch ai'l cast:ment is sought and on any other persons • to. be rnterestcd 111 the land. (3):Any interested person may notify the Board that be objects ilhe·crcation of the easement under this section or that he desires fbo hell rd on I he IHI hj(T! nf coin pen~n l in 11. · OO·The Board shall consider any objection and shall give an pporlunity of being heard to all persons who so rc(]uire, and Power to create easement L.R.O. 1/1970 Right to call for informal ion Puwcr io inspect works cic. Power h.1 [Ct\Utt'C dcmoll!ion of unlawful work~ LAWS <W ,. 'ALA\\'l CaJJ, 72:03 IVciter Resources shall thereafter submi t such application together ~ith I mendatwns to the Mm1ster who may m hts dtscrel!onbya ~ cate in the prescribed form create such easement as be: · · . appropriate with or without compensation, or may ffialllti'. · · crente an easement, or nrny nwke ancillary orders in · '' . therewith. · (5) If ll1l: Pl'f.~1H1 l'11juyii1e ! lt,1 hc11eflt of 1111 cusc1nrot MUJL pt1y sud\ crn1\\K',11salion :.is dhcch.:d or lo comply with any~ orders made by the Board within such time as is lhereforeadlilw«( by the Iloard, the Minister may by notice in writing to lhdpcmj determine the ca:,emcnt. · · (6) Compensation due under thi!:i section may be s.ucd.(riir"K~ civil debt. 18. The lk1~rd may, for the purpose of this Ac!, pill t#i,iifi person to give mfonnation on such matters and m such S1t1i1bffi! as lllay be prescribed. 19.-(1) The Board may, at nil reasonable times, cnte-c·'·'· '. . land and may inspect any works constructed or under co ' · lhcreon and may <1sccrtain of cause to be ascertained the' · ., · of water nhs!raclcd or c11pul1lu of bci111:1 nbstructc<l by~-· sud1 works or otherwise. (2) If in the opinion of the Board any works are so con: maintained or used or are being so constructed as to conititli danger to life, health or property or damage to the natcnl sources of the a rca, it may r~qui re any person for the time Ii' enjoying the benefit of those works to carry out such d, · or to change the use of the works in such manner as it necessary and m.1y by nolke in w,·iling suspend any water; .. until H is satisfied that such requirements have been fulfllkdii! lhereupon the right shall cea!:ie for the period of the s .,.,,,". <'i-1\ (3) No compensation shall be payable to the owner oroci of any I.-:tnd by n.:as-011 that entry has been made upon suchbal pursuanc:c of I he provisions of su Ji.section {I) of this scctioa:.i 20,··•-(I) Tl1c Hourd 111uy !Jy 11otkc in writing rcquiNJ,'I pcrso11 («) who has constructed or extended, or ca"11 constructed or extc11ded any w·orks contrary to any p '· · under which sucl1 person was rcq u ired or authorized to .. . ·." . or ex tend the sa,ne or c;i U!:ie I henno be constructed or ex · nr ii2J If the p~rson fails to comply with a notice served on him ~ subsection (1), the Board may cause such works to be ~. demolished or destroyed and recover tbe cost of the ~lion, demolition or destruction from the person in default ~-~! suit. ~«J)-Any person who fails to comply with a notice given under kt.ion (l) shall be guilty of an offence. i-tf~l) The Bon rd may at all reasonable times enter upon any Power to llnd for the purpose of making such investigations and surveys rswbJisll islic Board considers necessary in the interest of the conservation ~-icc;~~~o!ogi• id.best use of water in Malawi, and may establist1 and maintain cal stations ,,. ause to be establis heel and ma intained on any such la nd, n11u make l I surveys ut other authonty than this Act, 1yc rometeorolog1cal ns and other works for the purpose of obtaining and record• mformation and statistics as to the hydrometeorological imilitions of Malawi. (11.) No compensation shall be paynble to the owner or occupier fai:iy land by reason tlwl cnlry lws bccu owde upon S!tCh fa nd in E nce of the pro visions of subsection (I) of l hi s section but wncr or occupier of such land shall be entn!cd to such pensation for all damage done and for any land occupied for ~construction of works as the Minister may determine to be ~nab/e in all circumstances. IOrAny person interfering with or damaging any such station i'Jrorks constructed under the provision of subsection (l) shall !ituiltv of an offence. l) The Minister may, in the public interest declare any Declaration Malawi to be a controlled area for the purposes of this Act. of controlled . area [(2) Within a controlled area the Minister may establish a jlmprehcnsivc scheme for the development of the nntural [i,itrcc~ or IHll:h u i-c IL f()) For the purpose of establishing such a comprehensive be the Minister may, after giving the holder of the right ~rtunity o[ mak jn~ representations, in respect of any subw iiting water nght w1tl11n a controlled area (Q declare the right determined; or (iQ declare the right diminished or modified in such respects ~ may be specified in the declaration; L.R.O. 1 / 1976 Service of notices 1Vafet Reso11rces (iii) erirn l J he lwh !er uf sudi l'iglit u new wutcr rigb( l!Jlto :mdi term::. and rnnditions ns the Minister may in his .,b-.t di~cretion <kem fit: Providi:d that the holder of any right .shalt be cnli.lla!'"'tfif receive cornpensation in respect of any loss resulting fmmdl~ detenn i 1, a I io 11 or dim i 11111 ion of t be rig)i t as provided in ~mt l 2 (3). ( 4) Tbe Mio i stcr may co11sl roct and maintain, or cause to !be constructed and mainwine:d, such works as may be i!Xprojtdlflf. the better control of land o..nd waler within a controllt:d arc.a.;j (5) The tv:Iinistcr may ! cvy charges upon the heneficlarieuarq, comprchcw,/\'c .-;chcmc w11hm ;1 c{)lllmllcd area in order (O~ expenses of such construction or maintenance or both, and ofdli services appertaining thereto, (6) '.fhe Minh,te\' 1nay create an ,aithority for the purpl)Jltl,q ad mi ms I c d n g. I he n a I u ra l ~eso u recs of the con lro lted area, ~-~ the construction and maintenance of any necessary Wo~:tcit making necessary payme\\ts and receiving revenue in~ with Jhc ad111inis1ratlo11 and bcllermcnt of the natural~ of the contro\kd area. (7) The au1horily crealed under subsection (6) above £bd)l·~ subject to the Minister's g!!ncrul and special directionc:. PART vn M JSCJ:LI.A Nl:OUS 23. Any notice required to be given under th.is Act sb.a ]j deemed to be sutncicntly served if sent by prepaid regiitcrcd ,W I\ dth'c:.scd h) I /ii.} p~ fMlll lo whom it is rt.·q II ired lo be gh"aJ It lfH lw.:t known tl(ldn::ss, ot· ir such person is a company, at its 1~ office or principal ol11ce or place of business in Mala. ivi, and mlti' case of the Minister if addressed to him at the Ministry of J\gslb' lture and Natural Rcsorce.s, P.O. Bax: 30134, Lilongwe)., .. 14. The. Minister may rn.ake regnlritions (a) prescribing anything which is required to be, or-:•Uil may be, prescribed ul)der this Actj (b) providing fur forms to be used and the fees to be·pulli respect of any matter required or permitted to be rlone 1IL1I this Act; {c) providing: for the advertisement of applications tot.~e use of public waler and for lhc giving of notice lO intaadi persons; ,msocrnt1on of persons, regulating !he division and dis!riburion dwater between those persons; '(g)prcscribing the matters on which and the manner in .,ruch persons may be required to give information as provided nua:tion 18; (h) generally for tl~c better carrying out of the provisions of lftisAct. .D.-{I) A person who i~ guilty of an orTcncc under section 5 Pcm1hics i)~! be liable tQ a fine of Kl ,000 and to imprisonn\cnt for one mr.,. JZ) A person who ifi guilty or any oilier ofTcnce unckr !hi.~ Act 6lfl be liable to a line of K500 and to imprison men l for six .1tlntths. rli.: Notwithstanding anything contained in any other written Other laws ir; any water right or right lo regulate, control or interfere in ~way with any public water granted or recognized by or under trfolhcr written law shall, subject to notillctttion of the MiniSler '~ section 8, be deemed to be a right granted or recognized ,m:tfa this Act, and may be terminated, varied or renewed in ~nee with this Act, and any power or duty conferred or .·~ on a Minister or any other person or authority under ,JJJ\ written I aw to grant or recognize any such right or to i;1:.minate, vary, or renew any such. right shnU he cx:crcised or ,,formed only with the concurrence of the Minister responsible :·'iifwater acting on the advice of the Boiud. SCHEDULE (s. 4 (3)) CONSTITUTION AND PROCEEDINGS 01' DOARD Membership of the Board shall be comprised as fo!!ows (a) two rep rcsen t:1 ti ves of the Min is try responsi b!e for a gricu It u re Jlld natural resources; (h) a representative of the Office of the Prcsiden t; (cJ a representative of t/1e Water Rcrnurccs Division; {d) a reprcscn tative of the Min is try responsible for t rnde and 1i!dustry; and fee) not more than six other members as the Minister mny ,kltrminc, appointc:J by lhe Minister in bis di:i.crelion. 11.Tho Mlni~kr 11\m\l 11ppni11t n,w nf llw nwrnhl~PI tn ht: Clrnirmnn Jibe Uourd, and mcm hc1s or !he Jlourd slrn II elect 011c of thcfr JHIJH I Jct' f,e Deputy Chairman, who shall in the absence or temporary in ,,aci1y or the Chairman perform the fu1H;Uons of Chairman. Cons((tutkm of Board 29 of 1970 9 of 1979 (.\llJ\fl)lll(I 11ml lkpuly Chuirm11n L.R.O. 1/J9SD Tenure of onkc Casual l':icnno:ics Quorum arn\ riroccdur~ 29 of 1970 Es111b\ish nw11t or cuuunlllcc~ 29 of 1970 Cap. 72;03 Wl/tet· Resources 3.-(1) The Chairman aud the members appointed under=·· , l (e) shall, subject lo the Minister's power, for sufficient JUlOli,;Qtt · · to te~n 1inat~ their appointments, hold office for three yws;~.~ . · be ehgtbtc tor reappomlm.ent. · · (~) ~ny n~c mbcr of lhe . B ourd may at any time resltD: bf'~ notice 111 wntmg to the Minister, and from the date spccifuid »ntn. notice he shall cease to hen member of the Board, (.\) If 11ny Jllcmbcr uf lhc Bonni is, without the permiaiiot«h Chairman, or in the case of the Chnirnmn without the ~n:~~ the Mi nist~r, a bse11 t from more ~h:1n three .consceuti~e ~dd~ Board, or is absent from Mnlaw1 !or fl period cxceedmg w maufbjlki! .shall cease to be a mcm bt;r of the Bon rel. 4. Where any member of the Board ceases lO be a membes-1~ the normal expiration of his term of ollke, the Minister nay~· ' another member in lib place to hold office unlil such~ tint. · · member's term of ollice would have expired had he not cc.ucdll · .. member ns aforesaid. · 5.-(1) The Board sha\ I meet ii t such times 11nd such p1.aoc:tlltimWli be necessary or expedient for the transnction of business. (2) At any meeting of the Board one representative ~di-~ Mi I tis try of A ,Jric u It u re ll ! ,d N,ll urn\ Rei;m1 n:l!i;, Ot\icc of (he ~ the Water Resources IJivisiou ;rnd one other Member shaU C"l"'dtl@mjl' quonun, (3) Decisions of the Board shall be in accordance with thel.. .· Lhe majority of members present and voting thereon, but in di(· of an equality or votes I he Chairman or the person pcrf~ · function:,; of Chairman :,;hull have a casting vole in additioa :: · delibernlivc vote. (4) The BoMd ,nay in ;IS d;sc,eHon ;nv;1e any pmon ,;,--. meeting of the Board, ;mu such person may, with 1he corucotc( Chairman or the person performing the functions of Chairma.;-' ' but shall have no power to vote at that meeting. ( 5) Subject to the provisions oft his paragraph and to atl)' ~ given by the Minister, lhc Bo,ml may regulate ils own proc¢~ (6) The Bonni ~hn\\ hnvc lhY power to np\101111 commltlctllollfll! t1lld1 duties ns lhc llllard 111uy ddcgalc to L 1cm. Rcmlmcrn- 6. Mcmbe1·s of l!1e 80(1.rd ,\\\d Cmmnillees may be paid ouhlflld)l tion provided by Parliament such expenses .is the Minister may from.dmilill 29 of 1970 time ddc1·mine.