Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) If upon an inspection of any place or premises or any equipment, gadget, machine or device found connected or used, or any records maintained by any person, the assessing officer comes to the conclusion that such person is indulging in unauthorized use of water, he shall provisionally assess to the best of his judgment the water charges payable by such person or by any other person benefited by such use. (2) The order of provisional assessment shall be served upon the person in occupation or possession or in charge of the place or premises in such manner as may be prescribed. (3) The person, on whom an order has been served under sub-section (2), shall be entitled to file objections, if any, against the provisional assessment before the assessing officer, who may, after affording a reasonable opportunity of hearing to such person, pass a final order of assessment within 30 days from the date of service of such order of provisional assessment of the water usage charges payable by such person. (4) Any person served with the order of provisional assessment may, accept such assessment and deposit the assessed amount with the concerned department within seven days of service of such provisional assessment order upon him. (5) If the assessing officer reaches to the conclusion that unauthorized use of water has taken place, the assessment shall be made for the entire period during which such unauthorized use of water has taken place, and if, however, the period during which such unauthorized use of water has taken place cannot be ascertained, such period shall be limited to a period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of inspection. (6) The assessment under this section shall be made at a rate equal to twice the water usage charges applicable for the relevant category of services. Explanation :––For purposes of this section–– (a) ‘assessing officer’ means the Assistant Executive Engineer concerned or a person designated as such by a licensee ; (b) ‘unauthorized use of water’ means the usage of water–– (i) by an artificial means or from unauthorised source ; or (ii) by a means not authorized by the concerned authority or licensee ; or (iii) through a tampered meter ; or (iv) for the purpose other than for which the usage of water was authorized ; or (v) for the premises or areas other than those for which the supply of water was authorized.