Chapter V Chapter V

Notification of water sources and protection of water supply mains and their ownership

1. (1) The Government may, from time to time, identify and declare certain water sheds or water sources or both or water main routes as notified watersheds or water sources or notified water main routes;
2. (2) Such notified watersheds or water sources or notified water main routes shall, thereupon be under the administrative control of Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh;
3. (3) Any use of such notified watersheds or water sources or water main routes by the public, local authority or any other agency shall require prior approval of the competent authority;
4. (4) The Government may impose tax for use of water from the notified water sheds, water sources or water main routes by the public, local authority or any other agency and the charges shall be not less than seventy percent of the charges for supply of water for domestic purposes, as may be prescribed;
5. (5) Private Water sources such as springs, dug wells, Bore wells etc. shall mandatorily be verified by the officials of Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department to certify its reliability in terms of quality and a nominal surcharge shall be levied from the consumer. Explanation:
   • (i) "Watershed" means an area surrounding any spring, stream or pond (whether formed naturally or otherwise) which conserves and sustains a source of water, the quantity whereof is likely to be varied by erosion of soil, felling of trees or disturbances by cattle grazing or human settlement/activity and includes the gathering ground of a river system;
   • (ii) "Water route" means the strip of land along which the pipeline for supply of water is laid and includes the land adjoining such pipeline which, if disturbed by quarrying, digging, or movement of vehicles etc. is likely to disturb the stability of the pipeline.
   • (iii) "Water source" means any spring, stream, river, pond (whether formed naturally or otherwise) from where water is tapped for domestic or other purposes.

1. (1) The ownership of the assets created by Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department like headworks, sedimentation tanks, filtration tanks, storage tanks, distribution tanks, overhead tanks, pumps, motors, ring well, lift water supply system, the main and service lines, water meter, water taps etc. in Urban, Semi-urban and rural areas shall vest with the Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department till these are handed over to the consumers, local bodies, Non Government Organization, Panchayats or Village Water Sanitation Committee etc.
2. (2) The ownership of service line in the case of private consumers shall also vest with Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department even though the cost of any connection or part thereof has been borne by the applicant.
3. (3) The field officers of the Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department shall be authorized to take over old pipelines whenever new pipelines are laid in lieu of old pipes and they may shift and use these old pipes to any other locations as deemed fit.
4. (4) In the event of such shifting and re-use of old pipes under section 21, the department shall maintain proper records like Material Account at Site.
5. (5) The ownership of water supply assets created under different programmes by other departments also shall be vested in Public Health Engineering & Water Supply Department.

1. (1) The Government/village authorities shall provide, free of cost, at least one (1 m) meter wide land on both sides of roads, streets, pavements etc in Urban, Semi-urban and rural area for laying of pipelines by the Public Health Engineering & Water Supply Department.
2. (2) No person shall without permission of the competent authority construct any private street, building, wall, fence or other structure over any land or pipes or mains belonging to the department.
3. (3) If any private street is constructed or any building, wall, fence or other structure is erected on any land or pipes or mains belonging to the department, the competent authority may remove or cause to remove the same as may be provided in this Act, or any other law for the time being in force.
4. (4) The expenses incurred by the competent authority in so doing shall be paid by the owner of the private street or of the building, fence, wall or other structure or as the case may be, by the person contravening the Act and shall be recoverable as arrears of land revenue.