Section 220 in West Bengal Municipal Corporation Act, 2006
220. Power to cut off or turn off supply of water to premises.
(1)Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act, the Commissioner may cut off the connection between any water-works of the Corporation and any premises to which water is supplied from such water-works, or may turn off such supply, in any of the following cases, namely:-(a)if the premises is unoccupied; or(b)if, after receipt of a notice, in writing, from the Commissioner requiring him to refrain from so doing, the owner or the occupier of the premises continues to use the water or to permit the same to be used, in contravention of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder; or(c)if the occupier of the premises contravenes the provisions of section 180; or(d)if the occupier refuses to admit any officer or employee of the Corporation, duly authorised in that behalf, into the premises for the purpose of making any inspection under this Act or under any regulations relating to water-supply made under this Act, or prevents such officer or employee from making such inspection; or(e)if the owner or the occupier of the premises wilfully or negligently injures or damages his water meter or any pipe or tap conveying water from any works of the Corporation; or(f)if any pipe, tap, work or fitting connected with the supply of water to the premises be found, on examination by the Commissioner, to be out of repair to such an extent as to cause so serious a waste of water that, in the opinion of the Commissioner, immediate prevention is necessary; or(g)if the use of the premises for human habitation has been prohibited under this Act from the date from which the premises is to be vacated in pursuance of an order under this Act; or(h)if there is any water-pipe situated within the premises to which no tap or other efficient means of turning the water off is attached; or(i)if, by reason of a leak in the service pipe or fitting, damage is caused to the public street and immediate prevention is necessary; or(j)if, in respect of the premises, any taxes or rates or fees or charges under this Act are in arrear for payment for more than one year:Provided that-(i)water supplied for flushing privies or urinals shall not be cut off or turned off except when the Commissioner thinks it necessary to cut off or turn off such water preventing damage to, or accident on, public streets;(ii)water shall not be cut off or turned off in any case referred to in clause (g) or clause (j) unless a notice in writing, of not less than seventy-two hours has been given to the occupier of the premises:(iii)in any case referred to in clause (f) Sick the Commissioner may carry out necessary repair to sick tap. work or fitting and recover the expenses thereof from the owner or the occupier of the premises.(2)The expenses of cutting off or turning off water-supply shall be paid by the owner or the occupier of premises and, in case the owner or the occupier refuses to pay such expenses, the same shall be paid from the Municipal Fund, and it shall be recoverable from the owner or the occupier of such premises as arrear of tax under this Act.
