343. Power to prohibit use of polluted water for drinking or culinary purposes.
(1)If the Director of Public Health, the Civil Surgeon of District, the Municipal or any Health Officer authorised on this behalf certifies that the water of any watercourse, spring, tank, well, or other place, used or likely to be used for drinking or culinary purpose, is, if so used, liable to endanger or cause the spread of disease and that, owing to its situation or other cause, such place cannot effectively be protected from pollution, or if the owner of, or person having control over, any such place refuses or neglects, to comply with a requisition of the Municipal Commissioner or the Executive Officer under section 342, the Municipal Commissioner or the Executive Officer may -(a)by public notice prohibit the use or removal of water from such place for drinking or culinary purpose during a period to be specified in the notice and take such steps as he may consider necessary to prevent the removal of water for such purposes; or(b)in the case of private well, require the owner of, or person having control over it, to close it permanently or to seal it up with suitable materials.(2)Any person who fails to comply with an order under this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand rupees.
