Chapter V SEWERS AND SEWERAGE

1. (1) On and from the date of coming into force of this Chapter, all public sewers, all sewers in, alongside or under any public street within the Bangalore Metropolitan Area, and all sewage disposal works whether constructed out of the municipal fund of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara or otherwise, and all works, materials and things appertaining thereto, shall vest in the Board.
2. (2) All public and other sewers which are vested in the Board are hereafter in this Act referred to as Board sewers.
3. (3) For the purposes of enlarging, deepening or otherwise repairing or maintaining any such sewer or sewage disposal work so much of the sub-soil appertaining thereto as may be necessary for the said purpose shall be deemed also to vest in the Board.
4. (4) All sewers and ventilation-shafts, pipes and all appliances and fittings connected with the sewerage works constructed, erected or set up out of the municipal fund of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike in or upon premises not belonging to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike whether,—
   • (a) before or after the commencement of this Act, and
   • (b) for the use of the owner or occupier of such premises or not, shall, unless the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has otherwise determined, or does at any time otherwise determine, vest in the Board.

1. (1) All Government sewers, all sewage disposal works and all works, materials and things appertaining thereto shall be under the control of the Board.
2. (2) The Board shall maintain and keep in repair all Board sewers and sewage disposal works and shall construct as many new drains and sewage disposal works as may from time to time be necessary for effectual sewerage and sewage disposal of the Bangalore Metropolitan Area.

1. (1) No person shall throw, empty, or turn into any Board sewer or into any drain or sewer communicating with a Board sewer,—
   • (a) any matter likely to injure the sewer or to interfere with the free flow of its contents, or to affect prejudicially the treatment and disposal of its contents; or
   • (b) any chemical, refuse or waste steam, or any liquid of 1[such temperature as may be specified by notification by the Board] , being refuse or steam which, or a liquid which when so heated, is, either alone or in combination with the contents of the sewer, dangerous, or the cause of a nuisance, or prejudicial to health; or
   • (c) any dangerous petroleum.
2. (2) In this section, the expression “dangerous petroleum” has the same meaning as in the Petroleum Act, 1934 (Central Act 30 of 1934).

¹ Substituted by Act 6 of 1966 w.e.f. 17.3.1966.

1. (1) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by regulations made in this behalf, the owner or occupier of any premises having a private drain, or the owner of any private drain within the Bangalore Metropolitan Area may apply to the Board to have his drain made to communicate with the Board sewers and thereby to discharge foul water and surface water from those premises or that private drain: Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall entitle any person to discharge directly or indirectly into any Board sewer,—
   • (i) any trade effluent from any trade premises except in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf; or
   • (ii) any liquid or other matter the discharge of which into Board sewers is prohibited by or under this Act or any other law.
2. (2) Any person desirous of availing himself of the provisions of sub-section (1) shall give to the Board notice of his proposals, and at any time within one month after receipt thereof, the Board may by notice to him refuse to permit the communication to be made, if it appears to it that the mode of construction or condition of the drain is such that the making of the communication would be prejudicial to the sewerage system, and for the purpose of examining the mode of construction and condition of the drain it may, if necessary, require it to be laid open for inspection.
3. (3) The Board may, if it thinks fit, construct such part of the work necessary for connecting a private drain with a Board sewer as is in or under a public street and in such a case, the expenses incurred by the Board shall be paid by the owner or occupier of the premises, or as the case may be, the owner of the private drain and shall be recoverable from the owner or occupier as an arrear of charges payable under this Act. 1[(4) Every owner or occupier of a building having sewerage connection shall pay such sewerage charges as may be determined by the Board by regulation from time to time.]

¹ Inserted by Act 15 of 2010 w.e.f. 16.04.2010.

1. (1) Where any premises are in the opinion of the Board without sufficient means of effectual drainage and a Government sewer or some place approved by the Board for the discharge of filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter is situated at a distance of not exceeding thirty-five metre from any part of the said premises, it may, by written notice, require the owner of the said premises,—
   • (a) to make a drain emptying into such Government sewer or place;
   • (b) to construct a closed cesspool or soakage pit and fittings as may appear to the Board necessary for the purpose of gathering and receiving the filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter from and conveying the same off, the said premises and of effectually flushing such drain and every fixture connected therewith;
   • (c) to remove any existing drain or other appliance or thing used or intended to be used for drainage which is injurious to health;
   • (d) to provide a closed drain in substitution of an open drain or to provide such other appliance or thing either newly or in substitution of any existing appliance or thing or to provide both a closed drain and such other appliance or thing in substitution of the existing open drain and other appliance or thing, which is or is likely to be injurious to health;
   • (e) to provide and set up all such appliances and fittings as may appear to the Board to be necessary for the purpose of gathering and receiving the waste water from floors and galleries of buildings when they are washed, and conveying the same through spouts, by down-take pipes so as to prevent such waste water from discharging directly on streets or inside any lower portion of the premises;
   • (f) to carry out any work to improve or re-model an existing drain which is inadequate, insufficient or faulty.
2. (2) Where in any case not provided for in sub-section (1) any premises are, in the opinion of the Board without sufficient means of effectual drainage, it may, by written notice, require the owner of the premises,—
   • (a) to construct a drain up to a point to be prescribed in such notice but not at a distance of more than thirty-five metres from any part of the premises; or
   • (b) to construct a closed cesspool or soakage pit and drain or drains emptying into such cesspool or soakage pit.
3. (3) Any requisition for the construction of any drain under sub-section (2) may contain any of the details specified in sub-section (1).

1. (1) In areas in which Board sewers are provided it shall not be lawful to erect or to re-erect any premises or to occupy any such premises unless,—
   • (a) a drain be constructed of such size, materials and descriptions, at such level and with such fall as shall appear to the Board to be necessary for the effectual drainage of such premises;
   • (b) there have been provided and set up on such premises such appliances and fittings as may appear to the Board to be necessary for the purposes of gathering or receiving the filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter from, and conveying the same off, the said premises and of effectually flushing the drain of the said premises and every fixture connected therewith.
2. (2) The drain so constructed shall empty into a Board sewer.
3. (3) The provisions of this section shall be applicable to premises any part of which is situated within a distance of thirty-five metres from a Board sewer.

1. (1) If it appears to the Board that any group or block of premises may be drained more economically or advantageously in combination than separately, and a Board sewer of sufficient size already exists or is about to be constructed within thirty-five metres of any part of that group or block of premises, the Board may cause that group or block of premises to be drained by a combined operation.
2. (2) The expenses incurred in carrying out any work under sub-section (1) in respect of any group or block of premises shall be paid by the owners of such premises in such proportion as the Board may determine and shall be recoverable from them as an arrear of charges payable under this Act.
3. (3) Not less than fifteen days before any such work is commenced, the Board shall give to each such owner,—
   • (a) written notice of the nature of the proposed work, and
   • (b) an estimate of the expenses to be incurred in respect thereof and of the proportion of such expenses payable by him.
4. (4) The Board may require the owners of such group or block of premises to maintain the work executed under this section.

Where a drain connecting any premises with a Board sewer is sufficient for the effectual drainage of such premises and is otherwise unobjectionable but is not, in the opinion of the Board adapted to the general system of sewerage in the Bangalore Metropolitan Area, it may, by written notice addressed to the owner of the premises, direct,—

1. (a) that such drain be closed, discontinued or destroyed and that any work necessary for that purpose be done; or
2. (b) that such drain shall, from such date as may be specified in the notice in this behalf, be used for filth and polluted water only or for rain water and unpolluted sub-soil water only: Provided that,—
   • (i) no drain may be closed, discontinued or destroyed by the Board under clause
3. (a) except on condition of its providing another drain equally effectual for the drainage of the premises and communicating with any Board sewer which it thinks fit; and
   • (ii) the expenses of the construction of any drain so provided by the Board and of any work done under clause (a) shall be borne by the Board.

1. (1) Where the Board either on receipt of an application from the owner of any premises or otherwise is of the opinion that the only, or the most convenient means of effectual drainage of the premises into a Board sewer is through a drain belonging to another person, the Board may by notice in writing require the owner of such drain to show cause within a period specified in the notice as to why an order under this section should not be made.
2. (2) Where no cause is shown within the specified period or the cause shown appears to the Board invalid or insufficient, the Board may by order in writing either authorise the owner of the premises to use the drain or declare him to be a joint owner thereof.
3. (3) An order made under sub-section (2) may contain directions as to,—
   • (a) the payment of rent or compensation by the owner of the premises;
   • (b) the construction of a drain for the premises for the purpose of connecting it with the aforesaid drain;
   • (c) the entry upon the land in which the aforesaid drain is situate with assistants and workmen at all reasonable hours;
   • (d) the respective responsibilities of the parties for maintaining, repairing, flushing, cleaning and emptying the aforesaid drain.

¹ Substituted by Act 15 of 2010 w.e.f. 16.04.2010.

Wherever it is provided in this Chapter that steps shall or may be taken for the effectual drainage of any premises, it shall be competent to the Board to require that there shall be one drain for filth and polluted water and connecting to Board sewer and an entirely distinct drain for rain water and unpolluted sub-soil water or both rain water and unpolluted sub-soil water, emptying into rain water harvesting system, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike drain or other suitable places.]

1[

2[

(1) Every owner who proposes to construct a building on a sital area of not less than 108 square meter shall provide rain water harvesting structure for storage, for use or for ground water recharge in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be provided in the regulations and guidelines issued by the Board. (2) Every owner or occupier of a building having sital area of not less than 216 square meter and not more than 1000 square meter, who has not provided rain water harvesting structure before the commencement of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act, 2021, shall provide rainwater harvesting structure for storage, for use and for ground water recharge subject to such conditions as may be specified in the regulations. (3) Every owner who proposes to construct a building on sital area of not less than 1000 square meter or a owner or occupier of a building having sital area of not less than 1000 square meter who has not provided rain water harvesting structure before the commencement of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act, 2021 shall provide dual piping system and rain water harvesting structure for storage and for use, other than drinking, cooking and bathing purpose, based on roof area and ground water recharge based on paved and unpaved areas in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be provided in the regulations and guidelines issued by the Board. Explanation.- For the purpose of this section,- (a) “rain water harvesting” means collection and storage of rain water from roof top of a building or from a vacant land for use or for ground water recharge; and (b) “ground water recharge” means recharging of open well or the bore well or the underground water as the case may be, by use of harvested rain water.] ] ] 1. Substituted by Act 5 of 2011 w.e.f. 05.02.2011. 2. Substituted by Act 25 of 2016 w.e.f 01.08.2016. 3. Substituted by Act 29 of 2021 w.e.f. 07.10.2021

1. (2) Every owner or occupier of a building having sital area of not less than 216 square meter and not more than 1000 square meter, who has not provided rain water harvesting structure before the commencement of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act, 2021, shall provide rainwater harvesting structure for storage, for use and for ground water recharge subject to such conditions as may be specified in the regulations.
2. (3) Every owner who proposes to construct a building on sital area of not less than 1000 square meter or a owner or occupier of a building having sital area of not less than 1000 square meter who has not provided rain water harvesting structure before the commencement of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act, 2021 shall provide dual piping system and rain water harvesting structure for storage and for

use, other than drinking, cooking and bathing purpose, based on roof area and ground water recharge based on paved and unpaved areas in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be provided in the regulations and guidelines issued by the Board. Explanation.- For the purpose of this section,-

1. (a) “rain water harvesting” means collection and storage of rain water from roof top of a building or from a vacant land for use or for ground water recharge; and
2. (b) “ground water recharge” means recharging of open well or the bore well or the underground water as the case may be, by use of harvested rain water.] ] ]

¹ Substituted by Act 5 of 2011 w.e.f. 05.02.2011.

² Substituted by Act 25 of 2016 w.e.f 01.08.2016.

³ Substituted by Act 29 of 2021 w.e.f. 07.10.2021

For the purpose of efficient drainage of any premises, the Board may, by notice in writing,—

1. (a) require any courtyard, alley or passage between two or more buildings to be paved by the owner or owners of such buildings with such materials and in such manner as may be approved by the Board, and
2. (b) require such paving to be kept in proper repair.

The Board may cause any or all of the Board sewers to empty into, and all sewage to be disposed of at, such place or places as it considers suitable: Provided that no place which has not been before the commencement of this Chapter used for any of the purposes specified in this section shall, after such commencement be used therefor without the approval of the Board: Provided further that on and after such date as may be appointed by the Board in this behalf no sewage shall be discharged into any water-course until it has been

¹ Substituted by Act 6 of 1966 w.e.f. 17.3.1966.

1[treated in such manner as may be prescribed in the bye-laws made in this behalf.]

Without the written permission of the Board, no person shall, for any purpose whatsoever, at any time make or cause to be made any connection or communication with any sewer referred to in section 63 constructed or maintained by, or vested in, the Board.

The Board may cut off sewerage connection to any premises,-

1. (a) if the premises are unoccupied;
2. (b) if the owner or occupier contravenes the provision of this Act or neglects to comply with any lawful order or requisites regarding water supply or sewerage connection issued by the Board within the period specified therein;
3. (c) if any charges or any other sum due for water supply or sewerage connection or the cost of carrying out work or test conducted with water supply or sewerage, chargeable on the owner or occupier under this Act, is not paid within fifteen days after issue of bills for such charges;
4. (d) on receipt of requisition from any statutory authority on the ground of violation of any statutory provisions by the owner/occupier/developer of the building.]

¹ Inserted by Act 15 of 2010 w.e.f. 16.04.2010.

sewers without permission.—

1[(1)No private street shall be constructed and no building, wall, fence or other structure shall be erected on any Board sewer constructed or maintained by, or vested in the Board. Even where a structure is built near a sewer there shall be a minimum clearance of 1.0 meter or half the dia-meter of the sewer (whichever is greater) from the edge of the sewer or manhole on the sewer.

1. (2) If any private street be constructed or any building, wall, fence or structure erected in contravention of the above, the Board may remove or otherwise deal with the same as it thinks fit.]
2. (3) The expenses incurred by the Board 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 offending and shall be recoverable as an arrear of charges payable under this Act.

¹ Substituted by Act 15 of 2010 w.e.f. 16.04.2010.

1. (1) The Board may place and maintain sewers over, under, along or across any immovable property whether within or without the local limits of the Bangalore Metropolitan Area, without acquiring the same, and may at any time for the purpose of examining, repairing, altering or removing any sewers enter on any property over, under, along or across which the sewers have been laid: Provided that the Board shall not acquire any right other than a right of user in the property over, under, along or across which any sewer is laid.
2. (2) In the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this section, the Board shall cause as little damage as may be possible, and shall make full compensation for any damage caused by it.

(1) If it appears to the Board that the only or most convenient means of sewerage of any premises is by laying any sewer over, under, along or across the immovable property of another person, the Board may, by order in writing, authorise the owner of the premises to lay or carry such sewer over, under, along or across such immovable property: Provided that before making any such order the Board shall give to the owner of the immovable property a reasonable opportunity of showing cause within such time as may be prescribed by regulations made in this behalf as to why the order should not be made: Provided further that the owner of the premises shall not acquire any right other than a right of user in the property over, under, along or across which any such sewer is laid.

1. (2) Upon the making of an order under sub-section (1), the owner of the premises may, after giving reasonable notice of his intention so to do, enter upon the immovable property with assistants and workmen at any time between sunrise and sunset for the purpose of laying a sewer over, under, along or across such immovable property or for the purpose of repairing the same.
2. (3) In laying a sewer under this section, as little damage as possible shall be done to the immovable property and the owner of the premises shall,—
   • (a) cause the sewer to be laid with the least practicable delay;
   • (b) fill in, reinstate and make good at his own cost and with the least practicable delay, any land opened, broken up or removed for the purpose of laying such sewer; and
   • (c) pay compensation to the owner of the immovable property and to any other person who sustains damage by reason of the laying of such sewer.
3. (4) If the owner of the immovable property, over, under, along or across which a sewer has been laid under this section whilst such immovable property was not built upon, desires to erect any building on such property, the Board shall, by notice in writing, require the owner of the premises to close, remove or divert the sewer in such manner as shall be approved by it and to fill in, reinstate and make good the immovable property as if the sewer had not been laid over, along or across the same: Provided that no such requisition shall be made unless in the opinion of the Board it is necessary or expedient for the construction of the proposed building or the safe enjoyment thereof that the sewer should be closed, removed or diverted.

1. (1) When

under the provisions of this chapter any person may be required or is liable to execute any work, the Board may, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of any regulations made in this behalf, cause such work to be executed after giving such person an opportunity of executing the same within such time as may be specified by it for this purpose.

1. (2) The expenses incurred or likely to be incurred by the Board in the execution of any such work shall be payable by the said person and the expenses incurred by the Board in connection with the maintenance of such work shall be payable by the person or persons enjoying such amenities and conveniences rendered possible by such work.
2. (3) The expenses referred to in sub-section (2) shall be recoverable from the person or persons liable therefor as an arrear of charges payable under this Act.

For the purpose of ventilating any sewer or cesspool, whether vested in the Board or not, the Board may, in accordance with regulations made in this behalf, erect upon any premises or affix to the outside of any building or to any tree any such shaft or pipe as may appear to it to be necessary.

1. (1) Where it appears to the Board that there are reasonable grounds for believing that a private sewer or cesspool is in such condition as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance or that a private sewer communicating directly or indirectly with a Board sewer is so defective as to admit sub-soil water, it may examine its condition and for that purpose may apply any test, other than a test by water under pressure, and if it deems it necessary, open the ground.
2. (2) If on examination the sewer or cesspool is found to be in proper condition, the Board shall, as soon as possible, reinstate any ground which has been opened by it and make good the damage done by it.

1. (1) No person other than a licensed plumber shall execute any work described in this Chapter and no person shall permit any such work to be executed except by a licensed plumber: Provided that if, in the opinion of the Sanitary Engineer, the work is of a trivial nature, he may grant permission in writing for the execution of such work by a person other than a licensed plumber.
2. (2) The provisions of section 59 shall be applicable in respect of any work connected with any drain as they are applicable in respect of any work connected with water supply.

No person shall,—

1. (a) wilfully obstruct any person acting under the authority of the Board in setting out the lines of any works or pull up or remove any pillar, post or stake fixed in the ground

for the purpose of setting out lines of such work, or deface or destroy any works made for the same purpose; or

1. (b) wilfully or negligently break, injure, turn on, open, close, shut off or otherwise interfere with any lock, cock, valve, pipe, or other work or apparatus belonging to the Board; or
2. (c) unlawfully obstruct the flow of or flush, draw off, divert or take sewage from any sewage work belonging to the Board; or
3. (d) obstruct any officer or other employee of the Board in the discharge of his duties under this Chapter or refuse or wilfully neglect to furnish him with the means necessary for the making of any entry, inspection, examination or inquiry thereunder in relation to any sewage work.

1. (1) The Board may with the previous approval of the State Government may, make regulations to carry out the purposes of this Chapter. 1[(2) In particulars and without prejudice to the foregoing provision, such regulations may provide for the charges to be paid to the Board by occupiers of trade premises for the reception of trade effluent into Board sewers and disposal thereof.]
2. (3) In making any regulation under this section, the Board may provide that a breach thereof shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 2[five thousand rupees] and in case of continuing breach with an additional fine which may extend to 1[five hundred rupees] for every day during which the breach continues after receipt of a notice from the Board to discontinue such breach.

¹ Substituted by Act 6 of 1966 w.e.f. 17.3.1966.

² Substituted by Act 15 of 2010 w.e.f. 16.4.2010.

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of rules and regulations, the Board may after previous publication make bye-laws to provide for,—
   • (a) the regulation or prohibition of the discharge or deposit of offensive or obstructive matter polluted water or other polluted and obnoxious matter into sewers;
   • (b) the regulation in any manner not specifically provided for in this Act, of the construction, alteration, maintenance, preservation, cleaning and repairs of sewers, ventilation shafts, pipes, latrines, urinals, cesspools and other sewerage works;
   • (c) the cleansing of sewers;
   • (d) the prohibition of erection of buildings over sewers without the permission of the Board;
   • (e) the connection of private drains with Board sewers;
   • (f) the location and construction of cesspools;
   • (g) the covering and ventilation of cesspools;
   • (h) the period or periods of the day during which trade effluent may be discharged from any trade premises into Board sewers;
     • (i) the exclusion from trade effluent of all condensing matter;
   • (j) the elimination from trade effluent, before it enters a Board sewer, of any constituent which in the opinion of the Board would, either alone or in combination with any matter with which it is likely to come into contact while passing through Board sewers, injure or obstruct those sewers or make specially difficult or expensive the treatment or disposal of the sewage from those sewers;
   • (k) the maximum quantity of trade effluent which may, without any consent or permission, be discharged from any trade premises into Board sewers on any one day and the highest rate at which trade effluent may, without such consent or permission, be discharged from any trade premises into Board sewers;
   • (l) the regulation of the temperature of trade effluent at the time of its discharge into Board sewers and the securing of the neutrality of trade effluent (that is to say, that it is neither acidic not alkaline) at the time of such discharge;
   • (m) the provision and maintenance of such an inspection chamber or manhole as will enable a person readily to take at any time samples of what is passing into Board sewers from trade premises;
   • (n) the provision and maintenance of such meters as may be required to measure the volume of any trade effluent being discharged from any trade premises into Board sewers, and the testing of such meters.]

¹ Inserted by Act 6 of 1966 w.e.f. 17.3.1966.

Whoever,—

1. (a) contravenes any of the provisions of this Act mentioned in the first column of the following Table; or
2. (b) fails to comply with any order or direction lawfully given to him or any requisition lawfully made upon him under any of the said provisions, shall be punishable, 1[ 3[XXX] ]
   • (i) with 4[penalty] which may extend to the amount specified in that behalf in the third column of the said Table; 1[ 3[XXX] ] and
   • (ii) in the case of a continuing contravention or failure, with an additional fine which may extend to the amount specified in the fourth column of that Table for every day during which such contravention or failure continues after conviction for the first such contravention or failure. 4[ 2[TABLE Provisions of the Act Subject Maximum penalty which may be imposed Daily penalty which may be imposed

1. (1) (2) (3) (4) Section 65 Injury to, or interference with free flow of contents of Board sewers or drains or sewers communicating with Board sewers 50,000 500 Section 66 Sub-section (2) Private drain not to be connected with Board sewers without notice 10,000 100 Section 67 Non-compliance with requisition for drainage of un-drained premises 20,000 200 Section 68 Erection of new premises without drains 50,000 - Section 69 Non-compliance with requisition for maintenance of drainage works for any group or block of premises 50,000 Section 70 Non-compliance with direction to close or limit the use of private drains in certain 50,000 - Provisions of the Act Subject Maximum penalty which may be imposed Daily penalty which may be imposed
2. (1) (2) (3) (4) cases

Section 71 Non-compliance with Sanitary Engineer's orders regarding the use of a drain by a person other than the owner thereof 50,000 - Section 72 Non-compliance with requisition for keeping sewage and rain water drains distinct 50,000 - Section 73 Non-compliance with requisition for the pavement of court yard etc., 10,000 - Section 75 Connection with Board sewers without written permission 50,000 500 Section 78 sub-section (4) Non-compliance with requisition to close, remove or divert a pipe or drain 50,000 500 Section 82 sub-section (1) Execution of work by a person other than a licensed plumber 50,000 - Section 82 sub-section (2) read with section 59 (2) Failure to furnish when required name of licensed plumber employed 10,000 - Section 82 sub-section (6) read with section 59(2) Licensed plumbers not to demand more than the charges prescribed 50,000 - Section 82 sub-section (8) read with section 59(2) Licensed plumbers not to contravene regulations or execute work carelessly or negligently. Etc., 50,000 -

¹ Inserted by Act 6 of 1966 w.e.f. 17.3.1966.

] ]

² Substituted by Act 15 of 2010 w.e.f. 16.4.2010.

³ Omitted by Act 61 of 2025 w.e.f. ..................

⁴ Substituted by Act 61 of 2025 w.e.f. ...................