Section 22

(1) The Government may, from time to time, identify and declare certain water sheds or water sources or both or water main routes as 'notified water sheds or water sources, or 'notified water main routes'. (2) Such 'notified water sheds or water sources' or 'notified water main routes' shall be thereupon be under the administrative control of the Building, PHE & Housing Department. (3) Any use of such 'notified water sheds or water sources, or water main routes' by the public, local authority or any other agency shall require prior approval of the Competent Authority. (4) The Government may impose tax for use of water from the 'notified water sheds or water sources' or water main routes by the public, local authority or any other agency and the charges shall not be less than seventy per cent of the charges for supply of water for domestic purposes, as may be prescribed. Explanation.- For the purposes of this section- (a) 'water shed' means an area surrounding any spring, stream or pond (whether formed naturally or otherwise) which conserves and sustains a source of water the quantity whereof is likely to be varied by erosion of soil, felling of trees, or disturbances by cattle grazing or human settlement and includes the gathering ground of a river system; (b) 'water-route' means the strip of land along which the pipe line for supply of water is laid and includes the land adjoining such pipe line which, if disturbed by quarrying, digging, felling of trees, cattle grazing or human settlement, is likely to disturb the stability of the pipe line; (c) water source means any spring, stream or pond (whether formed naturally or otherwise) from where water is tapped for domestic or other purposes.