Power of owner of premises to place pipes through land belonging to other persons

(1) If it appears to the Board that the only or most convenient means of water supply to any premises is by placing or carrying any pipe over, under, along or across the immovable property of another person, it may, by order in writing, authorise the owner of the premises to place or carry such pipe, 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 pipe is placed or carried.

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 placing a pipe over, under, along or across such immovable property or for the purpose of repairing the same.
2. (3) In placing or carrying a pipe 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 pipe to be placed or carried with the least practicable delay;
   • (b) fill in, re-instate and make good at his own cost and with the least practicable delay, and land opened, broken up or removed for the purpose of placing or carrying such pipe; and
   • (c) pay compensation to the owner of the immovable property and to any other person who sustains damage by reason of the placing or carrying of such pipe.
3. (4) If the owner of the immovable property, over, under, along or across which a pipe has been placed or carried 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 pipe in such manner as shall be approved by him and to fill in, re-instate and make good the immovable property as if the pipe had not been placed or carried over, under, 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 pipe should be closed, removed or diverted.