Power to notify areas to regulate and control the development and management of groundwater

(1) The Authority shall function under the overall control and supervision of the Government.

1. (2) If the authority, after consultations with various expert bodies is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest to regulate the extraction or the use or both of Ground Water in any form in any area, it shall advise the Government to declare any such area to be a notified area for the purpose of this Act with effect from such date as may be specified therein.
2. (3) The Government on the advise of the Authority may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare any such area to be a notified area for the purposes of this Act with effect from such date as may be specified therein: Provided that the date so specified in the notification shall not be earlier than three months from the date of publication of the said notification.
3. (4) Every such notification shall in addition to its publication in the official Gazette, be published in not less than one daily regional language newspaper having wide circulation in the State and in such other manner as may be prescribed.
4. (5) If in the opinion of the authority, the availability of groundwater has improved in a notified area, it may, in consultation with various expert bodies advise Government to de-notify such area and the Government may do so according to the procedure prescribed.
5. (6) The authority shall also take steps to ensure that exploitation of Ground water resources does not exceed the natural replenishment to the aquifers.
6. (7) The Government on the advice of the authority may take steps as far as possible to ensure augmentation of ground water resources in addition to regulatory measures.
7. (8) The authority shall maintain and upkeep the data base on ground water related information.