13. Matters in respect of which a Board may be authorised to tender advice.—A Board may be
empowered under sub-section (1) of section 14 to perform all or any of the following functions,
namely:—
(a) advising the Governments interested on any matter concerning the regulation or development
of any specified inter-State river or river valley within its area of operation and in particular, advising
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them in relation to the co-ordination of their activities with a view to resolve conflicts among them
and to achieve maximum results in respect of the measures undertaken by them in the inter-State river
or river valley for the purpose of—
(i) conservation, control and optimum utilisation of water resources of the inter-State river;
(ii) promotion and operation of schemes for irrigation, water supply or drainage;
(iii) promotion and operation of schemes for the development of hydro-electric power;
(iv) promotion and operation of schemes for flood control;
(v) promotion and control of navigation;
(vi) promotion of afforestation and control of soil erosion;
(vii) prevention of pollution of the waters of the inter-State river;
(viii) such other matters as may be prescribed;
(b) preparing schemes, including multi-purpose schemes, for the purpose of regulating or
developing the inter-State river or river valley and advising the Governments interested to undertake
measures for executing the scheme prepared by the Board;
(c) allocating among the Governments interested the costs of executing any scheme prepared by
the Board and of works undertaken in the execution of the scheme;
(d) watching the progress of the measures undertaken by the Governments interested;
(e) any other matter which is supplemental, incidental or consequential to any of the above
functions.
14. Functions of Board.—(1) The Central Government, after consultation with the Governments
interested, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, empower the Board to perform all or such of the
functions under section 13 as may be specified in the notification.
(2) The Board shall exercise its powers and perform all the functions which it is empowered to do by
or under this Act within its area of operation.
(3) In performing its functions under this Act, the Board shall consult the Governments interested at
all stages and endeavour to secure, as far as may be practicable, agreement among such Governments.
15. Preparation of schemes by Board and their execution.—(1) Where any Board has been
empowered to perform functions under clause (b) of section 13, the Board may, from time to time,
prepare schemes, not inconsistent with its functions under this Act, for the purpose of regulating or
developing any inter-State river or river valley within its area of operation.
(2) After preparing any such scheme, the Board shall consult the Governments interested and the
Central Government in respect of the scheme and after considering their suggestions, if any, the Board
may confirm, modify or reject the scheme.
(3) The scheme as confirmed or modified under sub-section (2) shall thereupon become final and
shall be called the approved scheme.
(4) Before any scheme is approved, the Board shall take into account the costs likely to be incurred in
undertaking measures for executing the scheme and in maintaining any works to be undertaken in the
execution of the scheme and the costs shall be allocated among the Governments interested in such
proportion as may be agreed or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by the Board having
regard to the benefits which will be received from the scheme by them.
(5) Every approved scheme shall be forwarded to the Governments interested and the Board may
advise them to undertake measures for executing the scheme and a copy of the approved scheme shall
also be forwarded to the Central Government.
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(6) The Central Government may, on a request received in this behalf from any Government
interested or otherwise, assist the Governments interested in taking such steps as may be necessary for the
execution of the scheme.
16. General Powers of Board.—For the purpose of efficiently performing its functions under this
Act, every Board may, within its area of operation,—
(a) acquire, hold and dispose of such property, both movable and immovable, as it deems
necessary;
(b) undertake such preliminary investigation or surveys or other measures as it deems necessary;
(c) inspect or cause to be inspected any works undertaken by any Government interested
concerning the regulation or development of the inter-State river or river valley;
(d) conduct and co-ordinate research or various aspects of the conservation, regulation or
utilisation of water resources, such as water power generation, irrigation, navigation, flood control,
soil conservation, land use and connected structural and design features;
(e) collect such topographical, meteorological, hydrological and sub-soil water data as it deems
necessary;
(f) publish statistics or other information relating to the various aspects of the regulation or
development of the inter-State river or river valley;
(g) require any Government interested to furnish such information as the Board may require in
relation to—
(i) the measures undertaken by that Government for the regulation or development of the
inter-State river or river valley;
(ii) the topographical, meteorological, hydrological and sub-soil water data;
(iii) such other matters as may be prescribed.
17. Payment to Board.—The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament
by law in this behalf, pay to the Board in each financial year such sums as the Central Government may
consider necessary for the performance of the functions of the Board under this Act.
18. Fund of Board.—(1) The Board shall have its own fund, and all sums which may, from time to
time, be paid to it by the Central Government or a State Government and all other receipts of the Board
shall be carried to the fund of the Board and all payments by the Board shall be made therefrom.
(2) The Board may expend such sums as it thinks fit for performing its functions under this Act, and
such sums shall be treated as expenditure payable out of the fund of the Board.
19. Budget.—The Board shall prepare, in such form and at such time each year as may be prescribed,
a budget in respect of the financial year next ensuing showing the estimated receipts and expenditure, and
copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government and the Governments interested.
20. Annual report.—The Board shall prepare, in such form and at such time each year as may be
prescribed, an annual report giving a true and full account of its activities during the previous year and
copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government and the Governments interested; and the
Central Government shall cause every such report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
21. Accounts and audit.—(1) The Board shall cause to be maintained such books of account and
other books in relation to its accounts in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.