Jharkhand Water Resources Regulatory Authority Act, 2014
No: 10 Dated: Jan, 01 2014
Jharkhand Water Resources Regulatory Authority Act, 2014
Act No. 10 of 2014
An Act to provide for the establishment of the jharkhand water resources regulatory authority for regulation of water resources within the state of jharkhand, facilitate effective utilization of water resources within the state to ensure its sustainable and scientific management for drinking, agriculture, industrial and other purposes and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Chapter I
Preliminary
1. Short title, Extent, and Commencement:- (1) This may be called the Jharkhand Water Resources Regulatory Authority Act, 2014.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Jharkhand.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in Official Gazette, appoint.
(4) The provisions of this Act shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Bengal Irrigation Act, 1875 and Bihar irrigation Act, 1997.
2. Definitions:- (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires :
(a) “Area of Operation” means the entire geographical area of Jharkhand in which water is managed and supplied to different use sectors by public or private agency or the area which is benefited by flood protection and drainage works;
(b) “Basin” means the area of land around a river from which streams run down into it;
(c) “Bulk Water Entitlement” means the volumetric authorization given by the Authority to a share of water resources made available by a project, river system or storage facility, for a specific period of time as specifically provided in the order granting the entitlement;
(d) “Cess” means an amount to be charged on lands benefited by flood protection and drainage works from owner/lease holders of such lands;
(e) “Entitlement” means any authorization by the Authority to use the water for the specified purpose under this Act;
(f) “Category of Use” means use of water for different purposes such as for domestic, agricultural, irrigation, agro-based industries, industrial or commercial, environmental, power generation etc., and includes such other purposes as may be prescribed;
(g) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority;
(h) “Authority” means the Jharkhand Water Resources Regulatory Authority established under section-3 of the Act.
(i) “Government” or “State Government” means the Government of Jharkhand.
(j) “Irrigation Project” means a project constructed to provide Irrigation facilities to the land situated in the command area in accordance with the project reports and orders issued in this regard, as revised from time to time;
(k) “Member” means a Member of the Authority and includes the Chairperson;
(l) “Notification” means a notification published in the Jharkhand Gazette and the word notified shall be construed accordingly;
(m) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(n) “Search Committee” means a Selection Committee constituted under Section 6 of the Act.
(o) “State” means the State of Jharkhand.
(p) “Water User Association” or “Water Committee” means the Committees constituted under the Bihar Irrigation Act 1997.
(2) Words and expressions used and not defined in this Act but defined in various irrigation or water resources related Acts in the State shall have the meanings respectively assigned to then in those Acts
Chapter II
Establishment of Authority
3. Establishment of Authority:- (1) The State Government shall within three months from the date of commencement of this Act, by notification, establish a Authority to be known as the “Jharkhand Water Resources Regulatory Authority” to perform the functions and duties assigned to, and to exercise the powers conferred on it, under this Act.
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate.
(3) The head office of the Authority shall be at Ranchi.
(4) The Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and two other members notified by the State Government.
(5) The Chairperson and the Members of the Authority shall be appointed by the State Government on the recommendation of a search committee referred to in section 6.