An Ordinance further to amend the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act

	An Ordinance further to amend the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994.
	WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly of the State is not in session and the Governor of Tamil Nadu is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action for the purpose hereinafter appearing; NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 213 of the Constitution, the Governor hereby promulgates the following Ordinance:-
	1. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2003.	Short title and commencement.
	(2) It shall come into force at once.
Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994.	2. After section 257 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-	Insertion of new section 257-A.
	"257-A Provision of Rain Water Harvesting Structure.- (1) In every building owned or occupied by the Government or a statutory body or a company or an
	(1) institution owned or controlled by the Government, rain water harvesting structure shall be provided by the Government or by such statutory body or company or other institution, as the case may be, in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed
	(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), every owner or occupier of a building shall provide rain water harvesting structure in the building in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed.
	Explanation.- Where a building is owned or occupied by more than one person, every such person shall be liable under this sub-section.
	(3) Where the rain water harvesting structure is not provided as required under sub-section (2), the Executive Authority or any person authorised by him in this behalf may, after giving notice to the owner or occupier of the building, cause rain water harvesting structure to be provided in such building and recover the cost of such provision along with the incidental expense thereof in the same manner as property tax.
	(4) Notwithstanding any action taken under sub-section (3), where the owner or occupier of the building fails to provide the rain water harvesting structure in the building before the date as may be prescribed, the water supply connection provided to such building shall be disconnected till rain water harvesting structure is provided.".

	21st July 2003. P.S. RAMAMOHAN RAO
	Governor of Tamil Nadu
	EXPLANATORY STATEMENT In order to augment ground water resources, it has been decided to make it mandatory to provide rain water harvesting structure in all building. As rain water harvesting structures will have to be put up before the ensuing monsoon, it has also been proposed to give a time limit to be specified in the Rules, to provide rain water harvesting structure by the owner or occupier of every building and in case they do not provide rain water harvesting structure within the above said period, the authorities of the local body concerned will provide the rain water harvesting structure in those buildings and recover the cost of provision of rain water harvesting structure with the incidental expense from such owner or occupier as property tax. 2. It has also been decided that if such owner or occupier of the building fails to provide rain water harvesting structure on or before the date to be specified in the Rules, the water supply connection provided to such building shall be disconnected. 3. The Ordinance seeks to give effect to the above decisions.
	(By order of the Governor)
A. KRISHNANKUTTY NAIR Secretary to Government Law Department