3. (1) The Government shall have the power to develop control, regulate and administer the Groundwater in the State and may exercise its power through the Authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) The Authority shall have powers to direct and regulate the development and management of groundwater resources in the State consistent with conserving it and ensuring its optimal and efficient utilisation.
4. Wherever it is feasible, Groundwater Development and Management. shall be undertaken to maximise beneficial use of the available water resources in the State. The Authority may identify and notify suitable areas for conjunctive use of surface water and ground water to stabilise the existing use or to improve or increase the use of water.
5. If the Authority is satisfied that to facilitate mining or quarrying of any mineral or rocks, large scale pumping of groundwater is taking place and that -
(i) the mining activity has led to a fall in the water levels in the vicinity of mines;
(ii) the fall in water levels has affected the agricultural and the social activity in the area;
(iii) the pumping or disposal of water from the mining activity has led to degradation in groundwater quality;
in full regard to any one or more of the situations mentioned above, the Authority may direct –
(a) disposal of mine water in a manner that it may be directly used by the farmers; and
(b) its recharge, if feasible, to augment groundwater storage.
6. The
Authority may, in the manner prescribed, lay down or adopt standards for
quality of water, depending on the kinds of water use. In doing so,
it shall pay regard to the standards evolved by institutions either statutorily
empowered or technically competent to do so.
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