Power of Collector in regard to water-supply

(1) The Collector or any other officer appointed by the Government in this behalf, may cause inquiries to be made in any local area or part thereof, with a view to ascertaining — (a) whether the source of water-supply for such local area or part is contaminated from any cause against which effective means or protection can be taken; and (b) whether the provision of any additional source or sources of water-supply is necessary for such local area or part thereof. (2) The Collector or other officer aforesaid may after taking into consideration the result of such inquiries, by notice, direct that any source of water-supply be cleaned, improved, repaired or otherwise protection from contamination, or that such additional source or sources of water-supply be provided, as the case may be: Provided that before issuing a notice under this sub-section, the Collector or other officer aforesaid shall give the authorities or persons interested a reasonable opportunity to make any representations they may wish to make and consider the same. (3) Against any direction issued by the Collector or other officer under sub-section (2) an appeal shall lie to the prescribed authority whose decision shall be final. (4) (a) Every notice issued under sub-section (2) shall specify the nature and extent of the works to be executed, the estimated cost thereof, and the authority or authorities or the person or persons by whom and the period within which, they are to be executed. (b) The notice shall,— (i) be published in the prescribed manner; and (ii) be served on the local authority or on the persons owning or having control over the source of water-supply, as the case may be, in the prescribed manner. (5) If directions contained in the notice issued under sub-section (2) have not been satisfactorily complied with, the officer issuing the notice may himself cause the works specified in the notice to be executed, provided that he may, on sufficient cause being shown, extend the period specified in the notice, or modify or rescind any direction contained therein.