Section 20: Duties of Authority

20. Duties of Authority (1) The Authority shall be the sole undertaker for the supply of water for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes throughout Mauritius. (2) The other duties of the Authority shall be to— (a) investigate water resources and to collect, correlate, interpret any data with regard to those resources; (b) prepare an inventory of water resources and to keep the inventory continuously up to date; (c) study and formulate policy in relation to the control and use of water resources for— (i) the provision of water for domestic, industrial and commercial supply and for hydroelectric power; [Issue 1] C8 – 6 Revised Laws of Mauritius (ii) irrigation, land drainage, the reclamation of land, flood control, the development of fisheries, the protection of wild life, afforestation and the control of soil erosion; (iii) the disposal of industrial waste; (iv) the abatement and prevention of pollution of water; (v) any other purpose ancillary to the purposes specified in subparagraphs (i) to (iv) or such other purpose as the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, determine; (d) prepare plans for the conservation, utilisation, control and development of water resources; (e) prepare schemes for the development of river basins and transriver basins; (f) coordinate and scrutinise the projects undertaken by any person relating to the conservation, utilisation and development of water resources and to assess the technical possibilities, benefits and economic feasibility of the projects; (g) conduct and coordinate research and investigation on the economic use of water; (h) promote, design, construct, operate and maintain schemes and works for the purpose of conservation and development of water resources and for the purposes specified in paragraph (c); (i) inspect any work carried out in relation to water development or utilisation purposes; (j) ensure that water supply conforms with such standards as are laid down by law; (k) grant rights for the use of water and to issue permits, licences and concessions and for this purpose to— (i) establish procedures for the recognition of existing water rights, for the reassessment, variation and reallocation of existing water rights and for the grant of new water rights; (ii) establish procedures for the issue of permits, licences and concessions; (l) subject to any other enactment, supervise the enforcement of any water legislation; (m) collect such fees or rates, charges or other dues on behalf of the Wastewater Management Authority or such other body as the Minister may approve; (ma) perform such other functions as may be conferred on it under any other enactment; (n) advise the Minister on any matter affecting water. [S. 20 amended by Act 31 of 1989; Act 12 of 1991; s. 49 (2) of Act 39 of 2000 w.e.f. 30 August 2001; s. 99 (2) (b) of Act 19 of 2002 w.e.f. 1 December 2003; s. 29 (4) of Act 13 of 2013 w.e.f. 5 February 2014.] C8 – 7 [Issue 6] Central Water Authority Act