Provided that such permission shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.

Power to declare water scarcity area Power to declare water scarcity area

1. (1) If, on the advice of the Ground Water Department or such other authority as may be prescribed, the Government are of the opinion that in any area the ground water is over-exploited and it is necessary to regulate the exploitation of ground water for the purpose of ensuring the availability of drinking water, they may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, declare such area as a water scarcity area.
2. (2) On such declaration under sub-section (1), the authority may, notwithstanding any law for the time being in force, by order:
   • (a) regulate the extraction of ground water in such area in such manner as may be prescribed;
   • (b) prohibit the extraction of ground water for any purpose other than drinking water in such area; and
   • (c) take such other steps as it may deem necessary for the purpose of preventing the over-exploitation of ground water in such area.