Chapter V POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD

(1) The Board shall be charged with the functions of providing financial assistance by way of loans and advances to the local authority in the State for assisting in providing for the following amenities, namely:- (i) water supply and drainage for urban areas; and (ii) other activities which are entrusted to the Board from time to time by the Government.

(1) The Board shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely:- (a) at the instance of the Government or a local authority or suo motu,- (i) investigating the nature and type of schemes that can be implemented in the area of any local authority for the provision of drinking water and drainage facilities; (ii) planning and preparing of schemes including schemes covering areas falling within the jurisdiction of more than one local authority for the purpose of providing the supply of drinking water or drainage facilities; (iii) executing such schemes under a phased programme for the provision of drinking water and drainage facilities within the areas of local authorities to which such schemes relate; (iv) operation and maintenance of drinking water supply and drainage undertakings either wholly or in part and subject to such terms and conditions as the Government may specify; (v) levy and collection of water rates, fees, rentals and other charges in respect of such undertakings as the State Government may specify. (b) providing technical assistance or giving advice to local authorities in the execution and maintenance of urban water supply and drainage works; (c) establishing and maintaining schemes incidental to urban water supply and drainage such as testing of water, designing of plant for purification of water, conducting research relating to urban water supply and maintaining farm schemes; (d) any other matter which is supplemental, incidental or consequential to any of the above functions; and

The Board shall for the purpose of carrying out its functions under this Act. have the following powers, namely:-

(i) to acquire and hold such movable and immovable property as it deems necessary and to lease, sell or otherwise transfer any such property subject to such conditions as may be prescribed;

(ii) to acquire under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Central Act I of 1894) any land or any interest therein required by the Board for implementing any schemes;

(iii) to incur expenditure and undertake any work in any area in the State for the preparation and execution of such schemes as it may consider necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, or as the case may be, the functions entrusted to it by the Government ;

(iv) to enter into any contract; and

(v) to do all things necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act.