Chapter IV FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE AUTHORITY

1. (1) The Authority may-
   • (a) carry out surveys and investigations for the development, maintenance and better utilization of the inland waterways including ponds, lakes, canals, streams, rivers and other water bodies, water tourism including cruise services and the appurtenant land for shipping and navigation and prepare schemes in this behalf.
   • (b) provide or permit any activity having relevance to the shipping and navigation in the rivers (State sponsored works in National Waterways in the AP State), streams canals, ponds, lakes and other water bodies including setting up of infrastructural facilities, water tourism, dredging etc on inland waterways / coastal waterways;
   • (c) carry out conservancy measures and training works and do all other acts necessary for the safety and convenience of shipping and navigation and improvement of the inland waterways including ponds, lakes, canals, streams, rivers and other water bodies;
   • (d) control activities such as throwing rubbish, dumping or removal of material, in or from the bed of the waterways and appurtenant land, in so far as they may affect safe and efficient, shipping and navigation, water tourism, maintenance of navigable channels, river training and conservancy measures;
   • (e) remove or alter any obstruction or impediment in the waters, rivers, waterways and the appurtenant land which may impede the safe navigation or endanger safety of infrastructural facilities or conservancy measures where such obstruction or impediment has been lawfully made or has become lawful by reason of long continuance of such obstruction or impediment or otherwise, after making compensation to person suffering damage by such removal or alteration;
   • (f) provide for the regulation of water tourism, navigation and traffic (including the rule of the road) on inland waters including ponds, lakes, canals, streams, rivers and other water bodies.
   • (g) regulate the construction or alteration of structures on across or under the inland waterways including ponds, lakes, canals, streams, rivers and other water bodies.
   • (h) disseminate navigational meteorological information about coastal & inland waterways including ponds, lakes, canals, streams, rivers and other water bodies;
     • (i) ensure co-ordination of inland water transport on coastal & inland waterways with other modes of transport; and establish and maintain pilotage on coastal & inland waterways including ponds, lakes, canals, streams, rivers and other water bodies.
   • (j) enter into joint ventures including Public and Private Agencies concerning inland navigation, coastal shipping and water tourism by way of equity participation.
   • (k) Propose, make applications, accept and/or execute Navigation related works on National Waterways in the State of Andhra Pradesh on behalf of Central Government.
   • (l) Regulate movement, construct inland waterway terminals, loading and unloading to/from terminals on coastal waters, inland waterways and vessel to vessel transhipment on the coastal cum Inland waterway routes on all coastal waterways and administer necessary functions for Coastal Zone Managements admissible under the extent of rules prescribed by the appropriate government.
   • (m) Establish educational, professional development and training institutes to provide develop knowledge, skill sets, organize safety camps, give requisite training for manning, operating inland vessels and for development of waterways and for repair and maintenance of vessels or the other as the Authority may decide.
   • (n) Establish a Company or any other entity in relation to the activities of Shipping and Inland Waterways including infrastructure, development, navigation, water transport, water tourism etc or any additional or incidental activities connected thereto, after obtaining Board’s approval.
   • (o) Form JV / Consortium with private, Govt / Semi Govt / including Corporations of Central Govt & State Govt agencies and Execute Projects related to Shipping and Inland waterways implemented through Public Private Partnership
   • (PPP) mode,
   • (p) Construction, Maintenance and Management of Fishing Harbours.
   • (q) To act as nodal authority for the purpose of implementation of the provisions related to state government in Inland Vessels Act, 1917 or any other Central Act as amended from time to time.
   • (r) To act as nodal authority for the purpose of execution of any projects on national waterways on behalf of Central Government, Registrations & annual survey of inland vessels including cargo vessels/SPVs & Ro~Ro & Ro Pax Vessels, Tugs, Dumb barges, dredgers of all types of all mechanised vessels and nonmechanised vessels, floating in rivers.
   • (t) Attend various activities connected with disaster management in Inland waters.
2. (2) The Authority may also-
   • (a) advise the AP Government on matters relating to inland waterways & water transport, water tourism;
   • (b) study the transport requirement with a view to coordinating coastal/inland water transport with other modes of transport;
   • (c) carry out hydrographic surveys and publish river charts;
   • (d) develop consultancy services and provide such services, on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon, in the State of Andhra Pradesh in relation to planning and development of waterways for shipping and navigation or any facility thereat;
   • (e) conduct research in matters relating to inland water transport and water tourism including development of craft design mechanization of country crafts, technique of towage, landing and terminal facilities, port installations and survey techniques;
   • (f) lay down standards for classification of inland waterways (other than national waterways);
   • (g) arrange programme of technical training for inland water transport and water tourism personnel within the country; and
   • (h) perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
     • (i) The Authority shall also be nodal authority in the state for all activities and matters related to Inland Waterways, Water Tourism in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
3. (3) Any dispute arising out of or concerning the compensation referred to in clause
   • (e) of sub-Section
4. (1) shall be determined according to the law relating to like disputes in the case of land required for public purposes.
5. (4) Every scheme, prepared by the Authority to carry out functions under sub-sections
6. (1) and (2), involving capital expenditure exceeding the amount of Rs 100 Crores shall be submitted to the AP Government for approval.
7. (5) The AP Government may either approve the scheme submitted to it under sub-section
8. (4) without modification or with such modifications as it may consider necessary or reject the scheme with directions to the Authority to prepare a fresh scheme according to such directions.

The Authority shall not make any increase in the expenditure beyond the sanctioned costs in the scheme approved without prior approval of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. However, the Authority may re-appropriate the cost components. Explanation: - For the purpose of this section, “increase in expenditure” means an increase in the cost of the scheme by more than twenty percent of its sanctioned cost.