[77]

IV-1 Ex. (32)

TAMIL NADU

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14.

GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

2026

[Price: Rs. 16.00 Paise.

Part IV—Section 1

Tamil Nadu Bills

No. 32]

CHENNAI, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2026

Thai 10, Visuvaavasu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu-2057

CONTENTS

Pages.

BILLS:

No. 6 of 2026 —

The Tamil Nadu Water Resources (Regulation, Management and

Augmentaion) Act, 2026.

78-104

No. 7 of 2026 —

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Amendment) Act, 2026.

105-106

No. 8 of 2026 —

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Amendment

Act, 2026.

107-108

No. 9 of 2026 —

The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Begging (Amendment) Act, 2026. ..

109-112

No. 10 of 2026 —

The Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Amendment

Act, 2026.

113-116

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

OF THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU

Under Rule 130 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules, the

following Bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the

State of Tamil Nadu on 24th January, 2026 is published together with

Statement of Objects and Reasons for general information:-

L.A.Bill No. 6 of 2026

A Bill to provide for regulation, management and

augmentation of water resources through participatory

governance, to achieve equity, efficiency and sustainability

in the use of water resources in the State of Tamil Nadu

and to establish an institutional framework for the purpose

and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of

Tamil Nadu in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India

as follows:—

PART - I.

CHAPTER - I.

PRELIMINARY.

Short title, extent and

commencement.

1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Water

Resources (Regulation, Management and Augmentation) Act,

2026.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of

Tamil Nadu.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the

Government may, by notification, appoint.

Definitions.

2. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “abstraction” means the process of extraction or

drawal of water from well or from any water resources;

(b) “adjudicating officer” means the officer appointed

under sub-section (1) of section 31;

under sub-section (1) of section 19;

(d) “appellate officer” means the officer notified under

sub-section (1) of section 32;

(e) “appropriate quality” means quality of water which

is in compliance with all applicable standards that are binding

under any law in force at the time;

(f) “aquifer” means a geological formation, group of

formations or part of a formation that is sufficiently porous and

permeable to yield a significant quantity of water to a well or

spring;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(g) “authorisation” refers to any approval, clearance,

licence, no objection certificate, permission or exemption, by

whatever name called, granted under this Act;

(h) “Authority” means the Tamil Nadu Water

Resources

Management

Authority

established

under

sub-section (1) of section 5;

(i)

“basin” means a geographical area determined

by the watershed limit of a system of waters, which flow into

the ocean or sea either directly or through another State, or into

a natural lake or depression with no outlet;

(j)

“commercial water user” means any person or

entity, including but not limited to industries, infrastructure

providers and mining operations that abstracts, draws, transport

or transfer bulk water or utilises water for business or trade to

generate revenue or profit;

(k) “Committee” means the District Water Resources

Committee constituted under sub- section (1) of section 12;

(l)

“domestic purpose” means the drawal or

abstraction of water for residential purposes such as drinking,

cooking, bathing, washing, sanitary or rearing domestic

livestock, but not for any commercial purpose;

(m) “essential principles” refers to the essential

principles set out in section 3;

(n) “floodplain” means the lowlands and relatively flat

areas including the water channels, adjoining a river or any

other water body, that are subject to flooding from that river or

water body at specified times and frequencies;

(o) “floodplain Zone” means the area notified under

section 23;

(p) “Government” means the State Government;

(q) “groundwater” means water occurring in its

natural state where it exists below the surface in the zone of

saturation, such that it can be extracted through wells or by any

other means or which emerges as springs and base flows in

streams and rivers;

(r) “groundwater Protection Zone” means the area

notified under section 21;

(s) “Implementing Authority” means the officer or

authority designated under sub-section (1) of section 14;

Central Act 6

of 1974.

(t) “pollution” shall have the same meaning assigned

to it in clause (e) of section 2 of the Water (Prevention and

Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(u) “precautionary principle” refers to an approach

that advocates the adoption of anticipatory, preventive or

mitigating cost-effective measures to prevent environmental

degradation where there are threats of serious or irreversible

damage, irrespective of the lack of full scientific certainty

regarding such threats;

(v) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made

under this Act;

(w) “preventive action” refers to action taken to

preclude injury to, or adverse effects on persons, property, the

environment or the ecological system;

(x) “rainwater harvesting” means the technique or

system of collection and storage of rainwater, at the micro-

watershed scale, including roof-top harvesting for future use or

for the recharge of groundwater;

(y) “recharge”

means

natural

artificial

replenishment of groundwater;

(z) “river” means a natural water course arising

naturally to carry excess rainwater from its catchment to water

bodies such as oceans, lakes and seas;

(za) “river basin” means the area drained by a river

and its tributaries including associated aquifers, such that all

the precipitation or runoff that occurs within such area, except

for evaporation, eventually finds its way to a river, its tributaries

or associate aquifers;

(zb) “river Conservation Zone” means the area notified

under section 24;

(zc) “sink” with all its grammatical variations and

cognate expressions in relation to an existing well or new well

includes digging, drilling or boring of new well and deepening

of the existing well, for abstraction of groundwater;

(zd) “spring” means a natural point where groundwater

emerges and flows out onto the surface of the earth, driven by

underground pressure;

(ze) “State” means the State of Tamil Nadu;

(zf) “sub-basin” means the catchment area of the

tributary of a river;

(zg) “surface water” means and includes all natural

and artificial inland water such as rivers, watercourses,

lakes, floodplains, wetlands, inlets, canals, pools, ponds and

reservoirs existing within the territory of the State;

(zh) “sustainability”, in the context of the availability

and use of water, means using water in a way that meets current

ecological, social, and economic needs without compromising

the ability to meet those needs in the future;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(zi) “transfer of bulk water” refers to the transfer of

raw or treated potable water in bulk through vehicles, open

channels, pipelines or a combination of these from a source

to an area lacking a local water source, whether for domestic,

infrastructure or industrial use in rural or urban area, irrespective

of the time frame for such transfer;

(zj) “treated wastewater” means water generated from

the treatment of sewage, sullage and effluents;

(zk) “water” means surface water and groundwater;

(zl) “water bodies” means all water storage and

conveyance systems including ponds, tanks, lakes, rivers,

reservoirs, canals, channels and streams either occurring

naturally or created artificially;

(zm) “water budget” refers to the hydrological tool

used to quantify the flow of water in and out of a system. It is

an accounting of all water stored and exchanged on the land

surface (rivers, lakes), subsurface (aquifer, groundwater) and

atmosphere (precipitation, evaporation);

(zn) “water for life” means the basic quantity of

water of appropriate quality required by each human being

for drinking, cooking, bathing, sanitation, personal hygiene

and related personal or domestic uses with an additional

requirement for women for their special needs and includes

water required for domestic livestock or for wildlife, where

‘water for wildlife’ refers to water required to prevent

human-wildlife conflict arising in relation to water scarcity;

(zo) “water resources” refers to surface waters,

groundwater, estuaries, aquifers, rivers, springs, natural

channels in which water flows regularly or intermittently,

wetlands, lakes, ponds or reservoirs into which or from

which water flows and any other collection of water which

the Government may, by notification, declare to be a water

resource;

(zp) “water resources management” refers to the

process of coordinated regulation and management of water,

land and related resources to maximise economic and social

welfare equitably without compromising the sustainability of

vital ecosystems and the environment;

(zq) “water resources management plans” refers to

the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management Plan and the

District Water Resources Management Plan published under

sections 26 and 27, respectively;

(zr) “water resources project” refers to existing or

proposed single or multi-purpose plans or systems in the areas

of agriculture, drinking water, hydropower, flood prevention and

management, sanitation, storage, water treatment or any other

area of water use or management, whether owned or managed

by a governmental or non-governmental entity;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(zs) “water security” means securing and safeguarding

the sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable

quality of water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being

and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection

against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters and

for preserving ecosystems;

(zt) “watershed” means the ridge or line of high land

separating two areas such that rainwater falling on one side of

the line drains on that side and cannot pass to the other side,

and by extension, the area bounded by the ridge, generally

used to denote a small local area bounded by low ridges, but

sometimes also a large area bounded by high hills;

(zu) “water user” means any person or organisation

who abstracts or draws or transports water for agriculture,

horticulture, domestic, commercial or industrial purposes or any

other purpose from any water resources whether chargeable or

non-chargeable;

(zv) “well” means any structure sunk for the search or

extraction of groundwater, including open wells, dug wells, bore

wells, dug-cum-bore wells, tube wells, filter points, collector

wells, infiltration galleries, recharge wells, disposal wells or any

of their combinations or variations but does not include well

sunk for scientific research purposes.

CHAPTER - II.

ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF WATER RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT.

Essential principles

of water resources

management.

3. (1) The water resources and other related resources

of this State shall be regulated, managed and augmented in

accordance with the following essential principles, namely:—

(a) water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential

to sustain life, development and the environment;

(b) the regulation, management and augmentation of

water resources shall be based on a participatory approach,

involving water users, planners and policymakers, at all levels;

uses and shall be recognised as an economic good;

(d) all water resources are common pool resources;

(e) the use of water resources shall be prioritised in

the order of water for life, water for food security, water for

sustainable livelihoods and water for ecosystem needs;

(f) water resource management shall be based on

social equality, economic viability and ecological sustainability;

(g) the preventive action principle;

(h) the precautionary principle.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(2) The essential principles shall—

(a) guide the Authority, Committee and Implementing

Authorities in the exercise of their powers and performance of

their functions relating to water resources;

(b) form the basis for the formulation of all plans

relating to water resources management in the State;

to grant authorisations to activities that involve the abstraction

or transportation or use of water resources or that otherwise

have an impact on water resources or related ecosystems;

(d) play a role in determining whether tariff should be

levied for the abstraction or use of water resources and if so,

the quantum thereof;

(e) be reflected in making rules and regulations under

this Act;

(f) be applied to resolve grievances or disputes

relating to water resources.

4. No person shall be denied access to, or the use of, water

resources, on the grounds only of caste, religion, community,

ethnicity, class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital

status, disability, place of residence, or any of them.

Prohibition against

discrimination.

CHAPTER – III.

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE STATE

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT.

5. (1) The Government shall, by notification, establish

an Authority, to be called the Tamil Nadu Water Resources

Management Authority, to regulate, manage and augment the

water resources in the State.

(2) The Authority established under sub-section (1)

shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a

common seal and empowered to carry on all things necessary

for the purposes of this Act.

Establishment of

the Tamil Nadu

Water Resources

Management

Authority.

(3) The Authority shall consist of the following

members, namely:—

(a) Chief Secretary to Government, who shall be

the Chairperson, ex-officio;

(b) Secretary to Government, in charge of

Finance, ex-officio;

Municipal Administration and Water Supply, ex-officio;

(d) Secretary to Government, in charge of

Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, ex-officio;

(e) Secretary to Government, in charge of

Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, ex-officio;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(f) Secretary to Government, in charge of

Environment, Climate Change and Forests, ex-officio;

(g) Secretary to Government, in charge of Rural

Development and Panchayat Raj, ex-officio;

(h) Secretary to Government, in charge of

Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department,

ex-officio;

(i) Secretary to Government, in charge of Water

Resources, who shall be the Member Secretary, ex-officio;

(j) three eminent experts in the field of water

resources or related fields, to be nominated by the Government.

(4) The Authority may co-opt not more than three

members as it may deem fit, in such manner and subject to

such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.

(5) The Authority may invite such number of persons

having expertise in the field of water resources management

or persons of eminence or high repute as deemed fit, to attend

any of the meetings of the Authority as special invitees. The

special invitees shall take part in the discussion but shall not

have the right to vote.

(6) The nominated members and special invitees to the

meeting of the authority shall be paid such fees and allowances

as may be prescribed.

Meetings of the

Authority.

6. (1) The Authority shall meet at least once in six months

at such time and place as appointed by the Chairperson.

(2) The Chairperson shall preside over the meetings

of the Authority, and if, for any reason, the Chairperson is

unable to attend a meeting of the Authority, any other member

nominated by the Chairperson shall preside over the meeting.

(3) One-half of the total number of members of the

Authority, including the Chairperson, shall constitute the

quorum and all decisions of the Authority shall be taken by a

majority of the members present and voting:

Provided that in the event of equality of votes, the

Chairperson or in his absence, the member nominated under

sub-section (2), shall have the casting vote.

(4) The Chairperson shall have the power of general

superintendence, direction and control of the affairs of the

Authority and without prejudice to any provisions of this Act,

exercise and discharge such other powers and functions of the

Authority as may be prescribed.

(5) All decisions of the Authority shall be signed by the

Chairperson or the Member Secretary.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(6) If the Chairperson or any member of the Authority

has any direct or indirect financial or other interest in any matter

coming up for consideration at a meeting of the Authority, they

shall, as soon as possible after the relevant circumstances have

come to their knowledge, disclose the nature of their interest

upon such matter for consideration and such disclosure shall

be recorded in writing and the Chairperson or member, as the

case may be, shall not take part in any deliberation or decision

of the Authority with respect to such matter.

7. No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalidated

merely by reason of, ––

(a) any vacancy or any defect, in the constitution of the

Authority;

(b) any defect in the appointment or nomination of a

member of the Authority; or

Proceedings of the

Authority not to be

invalidated.

Authority not affecting the merits of the case.

(1) The terms and conditions for the appointment of

the nominated members shall be such as may be prescribed.

(2) Any person who ceased to be a nominated member

shall be eligible for re-nomination.

(3) A nominated member may, at any time, by writing

under his hand addressed to the Authority, resign from his

office.

Terms and conditions

of appointment

of nominated

members of the

Authority.

9. If, at any point of time, it appears to the Government that

a nominated or co-opted member has conducted himself in a

manner unfit to hold office or has been guilty of misconduct or

neglect, which in the opinion of the Government renders his

removal from the membership of the Authority as expedient,

the Government may, after giving such member, a reasonable

opportunity to show cause, by an order, remove such member

from the office.

Removal from

membership of the

Authority.

10. The Authority shall, for the purposes of this Act, have

the following powers, namely: —

(a) formulation of State Water Policy and revision

thereof;

(b) preparation of the State Water Resources

Management Plan and modifications thereof;

classes of commercial water user;

(d) make appointment of officers, staff and consultants

for the Authority as may be required from time to time to assist

the Authority in the discharge of its functions;

(e) identification of authorities to be designated as the

Implementing Authorities in the State at various levels;

Powers of the

Authority.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(f)

defining

the

roles

and

responsibilities

Implementing Authorities;

(g) assigning specific duties to the Implementing

Authorities such as regulation, management and augmentation

of the water resources, ensuring sustainable use, monitoring

water quality and quantity and enforcing compliance with all

applicable standards of water that are binding under any law in

force;

(h) requiring any Implementing Authority to collect and

submit such information in such form and manner as it may

direct;

(i) requiring any Government department or any

organisation to furnish such information as it may deem

necessary to perform its functions and discharge its duties

under this Act;

(j) supervising and monitoring the actions and

proceedings of the Committees and Implementing Authorities;

(k) making regulations, prescribing functions of the

Committees and the Implementing Authorities and the manner

in which their functions shall be monitored;

(l) making recommendations to the Government

regarding modifications to the State Water Resources

Management Plan;

(m) supervision and control over its officers and staff;

(n) deciding any other matter which may be placed

before the Authority by the Committees and Implementing

Authorities;

(o) seeking any technical or administrative assistance

from any departments or undertakings of the Government as it

may require in the performance of its functions.

Duties and functions

of the Authority.

11. (1) The Authority shall co-ordinate, promote and

regulate the adoption of water resources management practices

in the State in accordance with the essential principles, with the

overall objective of ensuring water security for all in compliance

with the provisions of this Act. The Authority shall ensure—

(a) sustainable access to adequate quantity of

appropriate quality water for all;

(b) prevention of water pollution, discharge of

untreated water into rivers, streams and water bodies and

contamination of surface and groundwater;

water resources, considering the environment, climate change

and the challenges posed by climate change;

(d) preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity,

promoting a sustainable model of development;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(e) adaptation and mitigation measures against the

impact of climate change.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section

(1), the functions of the Authority shall include—

(a) to review the laws in force in the State, guidelines

and systems in place regarding water resources regulation,

management and augmentation by and between various

Implementing Authorities and recommend to the Government

necessary changes to make them compatible with this Act,

remove overlapping of functions or jurisdictions, define clear

roles and responsibilities including new responsibilities, to

align institutional structure with the essential principles of water

resources management;

(b) to review the current practices and standards of

performance of Implementing Authorities and frame guidelines

and performance indicators for them to achieve the requisite

professional standards of water resources management in the

State;

building of the Implementing Authorities in the areas of identified

gaps with a focus on achieving effective water resources

management;

(d) to promote, facilitate and enforce conjunctive

use of surface water, groundwater and treated waste water,

climate resilient, water resources infrastructure and to enhance

operational excellence in the existing and proposed water

resources infrastructure;

(e) to promote water supply augmentation through

water conservation, rainwater harvesting and use of treated

waste water on a large scale through the Implementing

Authorities;

(f) to review the development needs of water resources

projects within the sub-basin or river basin;

(g) to monitor the implementation of the Tamil Nadu

Water Resources Management Plan.

(3) The Authority shall perform the following functions

for implementation of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources

Management Plan without prejudice to the functions under this

section,—

(a) monitoring the preparation and implementation of

District Water Resources Management Plans and maintaining a

database of practices adopted or measures taken in pursuance

of such plans;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(b) conducting

information,

education

and

communication activities, as well as capacity building

programmes in relation to water resources management

including creation of awareness and knowledge on water

resources management at the district, block, municipal and

village panchayat levels;

information relating to sinking and creation of other groundwater

abstraction sources;

(d) recommending water resources conservation

measures including rainwater harvesting, watershed and

catchment conservation, including groundwater conservation

and recharge structures, as per the criteria specified in the

water resources management plan for respective areas or

locations;

(e) recommending

incentives

switch

from

water-intensive crops to low water consuming crops and for

adopting water conserving and energy-efficient technologies;

(f) demarcation and classification of Groundwater

Protection Zones, Floodplain Zones and River Conservation

Zones and laying down norms for activities within them in

accordance with this Act;

(g) framing relevant guidelines and regulations

for regulating, managing and augmenting water resources

including water resource conservation;

(h) to promote technology, research and innovation in

water resources management;

(i) to prepare data base of all water resources and

water users of the State in such manner as may be prescribed;

(j)

ensure

sustainable

and

equitable

water

availability by promoting climate resilient practices, integrating

conservation, efficient use and adaptive infrastructure in all

water resources planning and management;

(k) such other functions as may be prescribed.

District Water

Resources

Committee.

12. (1) The Government shall, by notification, constitute a

District Water Resources Committee for each district, consisting

of the following members, namely:—

(a) District Collector, who shall be the Chairperson,

ex-officio;

(b) an officer of the Water Resources Department,

not below the rank of Executive Engineer or Deputy Director

(Geology), who shall be the Member Secretary;

Raj Department, not below the rank of Executive Engineer or

Assistant Director of Panchayats;

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(d) an officer of any one of the urban local bodies

in the district, not below the rank of Executive Engineer or

Commissioner ;

(e) an officer of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control

Board, not below the rank of District Environmental Engineer;

(f) an officer of the Agriculture Department, not

below the rank of Joint Director;

(g) the General Manager, District Industries Centre;

(h) an officer of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and

Drainage Board in the district, not below the rank of Executive

Engineer;

(i)

an officer of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution

Corporation Limited, not below the rank of Executive Engineer;

(j)

the

Assistant

Director

(Geology),

Water

Resources Department;

(k) one representative to be nominated by the

Chairperson from any one of the recognised social group or

civil society organisation, including farmers’ associations, water

users’ associations, women self-help groups or community

based organisations working in the field of water conservation

or community development in the district;

(l)

one expert in the field of water resources to be

nominated by the Chairperson.

(2) The Committee shall meet at least once in three months

at such time and place as appointed by the Chairperson.

(3) Sections 6,7 ,8 and 9 shall, mutatis mutandis apply in

relation to the Committees in so far as they are not inconsistent

with the provisions of this section.

13. (1) The primary functions of the District Water

Resources Committee shall be to identify and address water-

related challenges and to prepare, monitor and implement the

District Water Security Plan, District Water Budgets and District

Water Resources Management Plans in compliance with the

State Water Resources Management Plan.

(2) The District Water Resources Committee shall

also perform the following other functions, namely:—

(a) to assist the Authority in discharge of its

functions as may be necessary and to comply with the directions

of the Authority;

(b) to guide and coordinate with the Implementing

Authorities towards implementing the components of the plans

and provisions of this Act;

Functions of the

District Water

Resources

Committee.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

promoting water resources management including conjunctive

use, climate resilience and water use efficiency;

(d) to carry out water supply augmentation

through conservation, recharge, rain water harvesting and use

of treated waste water;

(e) to facilitate open data sharing, encourage

research and innovation and coordinate capacity building;

(f) to facilitate water sharing to rural and urban

local bodies having water scarcity;

(g) such other functions as may be prescribed.

Implementing

Authority.

14. (1) The Government shall, by notification, designate

any officer or authority as Implementing Authority for such

department or area or purpose as specified therein for

implementing the provisions of this Act.

(2) The Implementing Authorities shall regulate,

manage and augment the water resources in the State as

directed by the Authority as per the provisions of this Act.

Duties and functions

of the Implementing

Authorities.

15. The Implementing Authorities, in discharge of their

functions relating to water resources, shall—

(a) act in accordance with the essential principles of

water resources management laid down under this Act;

(b) act in accordance with the Water Resources

Management Plans;

management recommended by the Authority;

(d) enforce

norms,

protocols

and

standards

governing water resources management, including permitted,

prohibited and restricted activities relating to regulation,

management and augmentation of water resources;

(e) collect tariff as determined and fixed by the

Authority;

(f) consult and coordinate with other Implementing

Authorities, Committees as well as with the Authority, to

effectively implement the provisions of this Act;

(g) make available or cause to make available in the

public domain, all topographical, geological, meteorological,

hydrological, sub-soil, land use and other water related data

available with them, in such manner as may be prescribed;

(h) submit such data and reports to the Authority, from

time to time, for demarcation of Groundwater Protection Zones,

Floodplain Zones and River Conservation Zones;

(i) perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

16. (1) In carrying out their functions under this Act, the

Implementing Authorities shall have the power to —

(a) enter upon any land or building and to inspect or

take specimens from any well, soil, water resources or other

materials;

(b) to seize and take possession of any equipment

utilised in contravention of the provisions of this Act;

contravention of the provisions of this Act;

(d) close, prohibit or regulate any activity, operation or

process being carried out in contravention of the provisions of

this Act;

(e) take action to stop or regulate the supply of

electricity, water or any other service for any activity, operation

or process being carried out in contravention of the provisions

of this Act.

(2) The Implementing Authorities shall take any action

under this section only after giving prior notice to the water user

concerned and reasonable opportunity of being heard.

Powers to enter,

inspect and seize,

etc.

CHAPTER - IV.

REGULATION, MANAGEMENT AND AUGMENTATION

OF WATER RESOURCES.

17. (1) No commercial water user shall on and from the

date of commencement of this Act, abstract or transport water

or carry on any activity incidental thereto without obtaining

authorisation from the relevant Implementing Authority:

Provided that the commercial water users already

abstracting or transporting water shall not continue to abstract

or transport water without obtaining authorisation from the

relevant Implementing Authority within six months from the

date of commencement of this Act:

Provided further that any authorisation granted by the

competent authorities for abstraction or transportation of water

before the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to be

the authorisation granted under this Act and it shall be valid for

the period specified in such authorisation.

Regulation of

abstraction and

transportation of

water.

(2) Every commercial water user for obtaining such

authorisation, shall make an application to the relevant

Implementing Authority directly, by post or online accompanied

with such fee and such documents, as may be prescribed, as

may be notified in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(3) Subject to such inspection in the manner as may be

prescribed and genuineness of documents accompanied with

the application under sub-section (2), the authorisation shall be

granted through post or online within such time and in such form

and manner, as may be prescribed. The authorisation shall be

subject to such terms and conditions, as may be prescribed:

Provided that in order to prevent decline in the water table

or deterioration in water quality or other effects that may be

detrimental to the continued availability of appropriate quality

water, the Implementing Authorities may, at any time after the

issue of authorisation, modify, amend or cancel the terms of

authorisation, for reasons to be recorded, after affording an

opportunity of being heard either permanently or for a specified

period.

Provided further authorization for drawal of surface water

up to 45 lakh litres per day shall be granted by District Collector

and for higher quantites by the Government.

(4) Every application for renewal of the authorisation

granted or deemed to be granted under this Act shall be made

not less than three months before the date of the expiry of the

period of such authorisation.

(5) The provisions of this Act shall, as far as may be, apply

in relation to the renewal of the authorisation, as they apply in

relation to the grant of authorisation under this section.

(6) The requirement of authorisation under this section

shall not apply to the following, namely:—

(a) residential houses or apartments or group

houses, abstracting water for drinking and domestic purposes;

(b) agriculture and horticulture purposes;

Governments, urban and rural local bodies;

(d) State and Central Government educational

institutions or Hospitals or Infrastructures;

(e) private educational institutions and private

hospitals abstracting water not more than such quantum as

may be prescribed;

(f) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises except

packaged drinking water units, abstracting water not more than

such quantum as may be prescribed;

(g) shops and establishments abstracting water not

more than such quantum as may be prescribed;

(h) charitable institutions, offices of the Central and

State Government, administrative offices of the public sector

undertakings, Armed Forces Establishment and Central Armed

Police Force Establishment;

(i) any other category of water user abstracting water

not more than such quantum as may be prescribed.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

18. (1) The Implementing Authority that has granted

an authorisation under this Act may, of its own motion, or on

application filed before it or referred to it, suspend or cancel

such authorisation if it is satisfied that —

(a) it is necessary to suspend or cancel such

authorisation to ensure the availability of water for life or to

prevent danger to life, public health or irreversible harm to the

ecosystem; or

(b) the person to whom the authorisation was granted

has acted in contravention of the terms and conditions subject

to which it was granted, or in contravention of the provisions of

this Act.

(2) No authorisation shall be suspended or cancelled

without giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity

of being heard.

Suspension or

cancellation of

authorisation.

19. (1) Any person aggrieved by any order, decision or

direction of the Implementing Authority made under sections

17 and 18, may within a period of one month from the date of

receipt of such order, decision or direction, prefer an appeal

in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed to the

appellate authority as may be notified by the Government in the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

(2) No such appeal shall be entertained after the

expiry of the period specified under sub-section (1):

Provided that the appellate authority may, at its discretion,

allow further time not exceeding one month for preferring such

appeal if it is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for

not preferring the appeal in time.

(3) The appellate authority may, pending the exercise

of its powers, pass such order as it deems fit.

(4) On receipt of any such appeal, the appellate

authority shall, after —

(i) giving the parties an opportunity of making

representation;

Appeal against orders

under sections 17

and 18.

(ii) making, if necessary, such inquiry as it deems fit;

and

(iii) considering all the circumstances of the case,

make such order as it deems just and equitable within a period

of two months from the date of receipt of the appeal.

20. (1) The Authority shall, with the approval of the

Government, fix and revise tariff, from time to time, for

abstraction of water by commercial water user.

(2) The Authority shall be guided by such factors as

may be prescribed for the determination of tariff fixed or revised

under sub-section (1).

Tariff for abstraction of

water.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

Groundwater

Protection Zones.

21. (1) The Authority shall make recommendations to

the Government to demarcate and notify the Groundwater

Protection Zones in the identified areas in the State, based on

the report of the Implementing Authorities, from time to time.

(2) On the recommendation of the Authority having

regard to –

(a) the most recent and dynamic groundwater

resource assessments ;

(b) the applicable Water Resources Management

Plans for the concerned area;

groundwater availability, and the social, environmental and

economic implications;

(d) protection and remediation of areas where the

groundwater has been contaminated;

(e) protection of areas of the aquifer, particularly,

recharge zones from threats such as physical deterioration,

the Government shall demarcate and notify the Groundwater

Protection Zones in the identified areas of the State, for the

purpose of protecting and conserving groundwater in the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

(3) In the Groundwater Protection Zones, the

activities affecting the quantity or quality of groundwater shall

be prohibited, restricted or regulated in such manner as may be

prescribed.

(4) The rules relating to the Groundwater Protection

Zones shall be adopted, implemented and enforced by the

relevant Implementing Authorities.

Surveys and Mapping

of Rivers and

Floodplains.

22. (1) The Authority, in coordination and consultation with

the Implementing Authorities, shall, within such time from its

establishment as may be prescribed, cause surveys of rivers

and floodplains to be carried out.

(2) Floodplain Zones and River Conservation Zones

are critical areas for managing flood risk and protecting natural

ecosystems and it shall be conserved and protected in such

manner as may be prescribed by the relevant Implementing

Authorities.

Floodplain Zones.

23. (1) The Authority shall make recommendations to the

Government for demarcation of Floodplain Zones and list of

activities prohibited or restricted therein, based on the report of

the Implementing Authorities, from time to time.

(2)

the

recommendations

the

Authority, the Government may, by notification in the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette,—

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(a) demarcate floodplains or any part thereof into

Floodplain Zones for such frequencies of floods as they deem

appropriate, marking the highest flood level for each Floodplain

Zone;

(b) specify the list of activities prohibited, restricted or

regulated in the Floodplain Zones in such manner as may be

prescribed.

(3) After notification of the Floodplain Zones, their limits

shall be marked by boundary stones or other suitable marks by

the relevant Implementing Authorities.

(4) The rules relating to the Floodplain Zones shall

be adopted, implemented and enforced by the relevant

Implementing Authorities.

24. (1) The Authority shall make recommendations to the

Government for demarcation of River Conservation Zones and

list of activities prohibited or restricted therein, based on the

report of the Implementing Authorities, from time to time.

(2)

the

recommendations

the

Authority, the Government may, by notification in the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, shall —

(a) demarcate River Conservation Zones and permit

certain activities to continue in such zones, subject to such

conditions as may be specified, having regard to the traditional

uses of riverine resources, and the rights of local communities

and their livelihoods;

River Conservation

Zones.

(b) specify the activities prohibited, restricted, or

regulated in the River Conservation Zones, in such manner as

may be prescribed.

(3) The rules relating to the River Conservation Zones

shall be adopted, implemented and enforced by the relevant

Implementing Authorities.

25. (1) The Committees and Implementing Authorities,

shall carry out the water resources management and

augmentation as per the regulations, guidelines and plans

formulated under this Act and shall—

(a) implement the components identified under the

State Water Resources Management Plan and District Water

Resources Management Plan in compliance with this Act;

(b) identify suitable places for construction of artificial

recharge structures in such form and in such manner as may

be prescribed;

groundwater;

Management and

augmentation of

water resources.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(d) adopt measures for water conservation through

guidelines on optimising water usage and regulate the

abstraction or transportation of water by commercial water

users from the water resources in the State and by promoting

usage of treated waste water;

(e) prioritise utilisation of treated waste water for

gardening, cooling purposes in water-intensive industries and

gated communities, in such manner as may be prescribed;

(f) formulate guidelines for prevention of the sea

water intrusion in coastal aquifers as may be prescribed.

(2) With a view to ensure optimum utilisation of ground

and surface water and formation of hydraulic barrier against

seawater intrusion, the Government shall issue instructions for

implementing artificial recharge schemes.

Tamil Nadu Water

Resources

Management Plan.

26. (1) The Authority shall prepare a State Water

Resources Management Plan called the Tamil Nadu Water

Resources Management Plan, within such time from the

establishment of the Authority as may be prescribed.

(2) The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management

Plan shall have the overall objective of securing water to all in

the State.

(3) The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management

Plan shall be prepared based on the terms as defined by the

Authority and shall address and comprise of but not limited to

the following, namely:–

(a) Water Security Plan for the entire State;

(b) Water budget for the entire State;

resources management which shall provide inputs, guidelines

for preparation of the District Water Resources Management

Plans and its implementation;

(d) proposals on inter-linking of rivers, tanks and

other water bodies to manage and store the excess flood water

and on infrastructure to serve the drought prone area;

(e) plans

manage,

protect

and

conserve

groundwater and its resources;

(f) define Groundwater Protection Zones and

formulate plans to manage, protect and conserve groundwater,

its resources and the Groundwater Protection Zones;

(g) management and utilisation of river water and

rain water getting drained into sea.

(4) The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management

Plan shall be the basis for preparation of the District Water

Resources Management Plans which shall be a subset of the

State Water Resources Management Plan and shall detail the

components of State plan for implementation at district and

village levels.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(5) The Authority shall consult all Implementing

Authorities and relevant stakeholders in such manner as may

be prescribed, for the preparation of the Tamil Nadu Water

Resources Management Plan.

(6) The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management

Plan shall be prepared for a period of fifteen years and shall

have phasing plan for every five years.

(7) The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management

Plan shall provide necessary inputs towards preparation of

the Water Budget, Flood Risk Management Plan and other

Regulations and Guidelines which shall be formulated under

the provisions of this Act.

(8) The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management

Plan shall be submitted to the Government for approval within

such time as may be prescribed.

(9) As soon as may be, after the Tamil Nadu

Water Resources Management Plan has been submitted

to the Government, but not later than such time as may

be prescribed, the Government shall give the consent

to the Authority to the publication of the said Plan in the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

27. (1) After the publication of the Tamil Nadu

Water

Resources

Management

Plan

the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, each Committee shall, in

accordance with the State Water Resources Management Plan

and in such manner as may be prescribed, prepare the District

Water Resources Management Plan for the district concerned,

to implement at the district and village level for a period of

fifteen years and shall have phasing plan for every five years.

(2) The District Water Resources Management Plan

shall be submitted to the Authority for approval within such time

as may be prescribed.

(3) As soon as may be, after the District Water

Resources Management Plan has been submitted to the

Authority, but not later than such time as may be prescribed, the

Authority shall give the consent to the Committee concerned to

the publication of the said Plan in the District Gazette.

District Water

Resources

Management Plans.

28.(1) All water resources management plans framed under

this Act shall be valid and binding for a period of fifteen years

from the date of the notification, unless climatic, geological

or hydro-geological events require them to be reviewed and

amended earlier:

Provided that the Government may, if they deem necessary,

direct the Authority to undertake such review of the State Water

Resources Management Plan within such period as may be

specified by the Government.

Review of Water

Resources

Management

Plans.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(2) The process of review of all the water resources

management plans shall begin at such time before their expiry

as may be prescribed and shall be completed before the expiry

of the plan period.

CHAPTER-V.

PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION.

Penalty for

contravention.

29. (1) Any commercial water user who abstracts or

transports water without authorisation, shall be liable to penalty

of twenty thousand rupees or twenty times of the tariff fixed

under sub-section (1) of section 20 for the quantity of water so

abstracted or transported, whichever is higher and in case of

second or subsequent contravention, shall be liable to penalty

of forty thousand rupees or forty times of the said tariff for the

quantity of water so abstracted or transported, whichever is

higher.

(2) Any commercial water user who abstracts or

transports water in contravention of the terms and conditions

of the authorisation, shall be liable to penalty of ten thousand

rupees or ten times of the tariff fixed under sub-section (1) of

section 20 for the quantity of water so abstracted or transported

in contravention of the authorisation, whichever is higher and

in case of second or subsequent contravention, shall be liable

to penalty of twenty thousand rupees or twenty times of the

said tariff for the quantity of water so abstracted or transported,

whichever is higher.

(3) Any person who contravenes any other provisions

of this Act or the rules made thereunder shall be liable to a

penalty of not exceeding ten thousand rupees and in case of

second or subsequent contravention, shall be liable to a penalty

of not exceeding twenty thousand rupees.

(4) Whoever pollutes or contaminates any water

resources or causes any other environmental harm shall be

liable for the cost of remediation of such harm.

Contravention by

companies.

30. (1) Where a contravention of any of the provisions of

this Act or any rule made thereunder has been committed by

a company, every person who, at the time the contravention

was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the

company for the conduct of the business of the company as

well as the company, shall be deemed to have contravened

and shall be liable for a penalty specified under this Act:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall

render any such person liable to any penalty provided in this

Act, if he proves that the contravention was committed without

his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to

prevent such contravention.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section

(1), where any such contravention has been committed by

a company and it is proved that the contravention has been

committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to

any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or

other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary

or other officer, shall also be deemed to have contravened and

shall be liable for a penalty specified under this Act.

Explanation.— For the purposes of this section,—

(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes

a trust, a firm, a society or other association of individuals; and

(b) “director” in relation to —

(i) a firm, means a partner in the firm,

(ii) a society, a trust or other association of

individuals, means the person who is entrusted under the rules

of the society or other association, with the management of the

affairs of the society or other association, as the case may be.

31. (1) The Government may, for the purposes

adjudicating

the

contraventions

and

determining

penalties

under

this

Act,

notification

the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, appoint an officer to be the

adjudicating officer to hold an inquiry and impose penalty in

such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that the Government may appoint as many

adjudicating officers as may be required.

Adjudication.

(2) The adjudicating officer may summon and enforce

the attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and

circumstances of the case to give evidence or to produce any

document, which in the opinion of the adjudicating officer, may

be useful for, or relevant to, the subject matter of the inquiry and

if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person concerned has

failed to comply with any of the provisions of this Act, he may

impose such penalty as he deems fit:

Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed without

giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

32. (1) Any person who is aggrieved by an order passed by

the adjudicating officer under section 31 may prefer an appeal

to the appellate officer as may be notified by the Government

in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette within sixty days from

the date of receipt of the order, in such manner as may be

prescribed:

Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry

of the period of sixty days, if the appellate officer is satisfied

that the appellant had sufficient cause for not preferring the

appeal within that period.

Appeal.

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TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(2) The appellate officer may, after giving the parties

to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such order as

he may think fit.

(3) The appellate officer shall dispose of the appeal

within sixty days from the date of filing of appeal.

33. If the penalty imposed under section 31 or section 32,

as the case may be, is not deposited in such manner as may be

prescribed, the amount due shall be recovered as an arrear of

land revenue as per Tamil Nadu Revenue Recovery Act,1864.

Recovery.

34. Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed to

prevent any person from being prosecuted under any other law

for any act or omission which constitutes a contravention under

this Act.

No bar on prosecution

under other laws.

CHAPTER-VI.

ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT.

35. The Government may make such grants and

advances to the Authority as they may deem necessary for

the performance of its functions and the discharge of its duties

under this Act.

Grants by the

Government.

36.The Authority shall prepare, in such form and at such

time in each financial year, as may be prescribed, its budget

for the next financial year, showing the estimated receipts and

expenditure of the Authority and shall forward the same to the

Government.

Budget of the

Authority.

37. (1) The accounts of the Authority shall be maintained

in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The Authority shall prepare an annual statement

of accounts in such form and in such manner as may be

prescribed.

(3) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited

at least once in a year by such auditor as the Government may

appoint in this behalf.

Accounts and

audit.

CHAPTER-VII.

MISCELLANEOUS.

38. The Government may, from time to time, issue such

directions to the Authority as they may deem fit, not inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act and it shall be the duty of the

Authority to comply with such directions.

Power of the

Government to give

directions.

39.The Government shall undertake a comprehensive

review of all laws or legal provisions in force in the State, relating

to water, water resources or water resources management

within two years from the date of coming into force of this Act,

so as to ascertain their compatibility with this Act.

Compatibility review.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

101

40. (1) The Government may make rules to carry out all or

any of the purposes of this Act.

(2) (a) All rules made under this Act shall be

published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and unless

they are expressed to come into force on a particular day, shall

come into force on the day on which they are so published.

(b) All notifications issued under this Act shall,

unless they are expressed to come into force on a particular

day, shall come into force on the day on which they are so

published.

(3) Every rule or notification made or the order issued

under section 42 shall, as soon as possible, after it is made or

issued, be placed on the table of the Legislative Assembly, and

if, before the expiry of the session, in which it is so placed or

the next session, the Assembly makes any modification in any

such rule, notification or order or the Assembly decides that

the rule, notification or order should not be made or issued,

the rule, notification or order shall, thereafter have effect, only

in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be,

however, that any such modification or annulment shall be

without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done

under that rule, notification or order.

Power of the

Government to

make rules.

41. The Authority may, with the previous approval of the

Government, by notification in the Tamil Nadu Government

Gazette, make regulations not inconsistent with the provisions

of this Act or the rules made thereunder to carry out the

purposes of this Act.

Power of the

Authority

to make Regulations.

42. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions

of this Act, the Government may, by an order published in the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, make such provisions not

inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to them to

be necessary or expedient for removing such difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry

of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

Power to remove

difficulties.

43. No suit, prosecution, or other legal proceeding shall lie

against any of the members, officers or staff of the Authority,

Committee or Implementing Authority, in respect of anything

done or intended to be done by them in good faith, in the

discharge of their official functions or in exercise of the powers

under this Act, the rules or regulations.

Protection of action

taken in good faith.

44. (1) This Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation

of, existing or other laws relating to water, water resources or

water resources management in the State, and shall be read

harmoniously with all such other laws.

Conflict with other

laws.

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TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section

(1), or in any State laws for the time being in force in the State,

where there is a conflict between the provisions of this Act and

any other State law relating to water, water resources or water

resources management in the State, the provisions of this Act

shall take precedence and have an overriding effect.

Annual report.

45. The Authority shall prepare for every year a report

of its activities during that year and submit the report to the

Government in such form and on or before such date as may

be prescribed.

Exemption.

46. The Government may, by notification and for reasons

to be specified therein, exempt any water user from any of the

provisions of this Act, or the rules made thereunder, subject

to such conditions as they may deem fit and may, in the like

manner, vary or cancel such exemption.

Members, officers and

staff of the Authority

and Committee to

be public servants.

47. When acting or purporting to act in pursuance of

this Act, every member, officer and staff of the Authority and

member of the Committee shall be deemed to be a public

servant within the meaning of clause (28) of section 2 of the

Bharathiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Central Act 45 of

2023.

Repeal.

48. The Chennai Metropolitan Area Groundwater

(Regulation) Act,1987 is hereby repealed.

Tamil Nadu Act 27 of

1987.

PART – II.

AMENDMENT TO THE TAMIL NADU

PANCHAYATS ACT, 1994.

Amendment of section

143-A.

49. In section 143-A of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act,

1994, the second proviso to sub-section (1) shall be omitted.

Tamil Nadu Act 21 of

1994.

PART – III.

AMENDMENT TO THE TAMIL NADU URBAN LOCAL

BODIES ACT, 1998.

Amendment of section

164-A.

50. In section 164-A of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies

Act, 1998, the second proviso to sub-section (1) shall be

omitted.

Tamil Nadu Act 9 of

1999.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

103

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

Rapid population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation and the impacts of climate change have resulted

in increasing stress on the surface water and groundwater resources of the State of Tamil Nadu. Unregulated

extraction and improper utilisation of water have adversely affected water security and the sustainability of

water-related ecosystems. There is a need for a holistic and integrated approach to water governance for all

types of water resources, including groundwater, surface water, wastewater and basins.

2. In order to ensure sustainable, equitable and integrated management of surface water and groundwater

and to regulate, conserve, manage and develop water resources across the State, the Government have

decided to enact a comprehensive new legislation for regulation, management and augmentation of the entire

water resources of the State by repealing the Chennai Metropolitan Area Groundwater (Regulation) Act,

1987 (Tamil Nadu Act 27 of 1987) so as to ensure an uniform regulatory system throughout the State. The

proposed legislation provides for constitution of Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management Authority, District

Committees, formulation of State and District Water Resources Management Plans, regulation of existing

and new commercial water users, levy of water tariff for abstraction of water by them and measures for flood

management and for matters connected therewith.

3. The Bill seeks to give effect to the above decision.

DURAIMURUGAN,

Minister for Water Resources.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

105

Under Rule 130 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules, the

following Bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the

State of Tamil Nadu on 24th January, 2026 is published together with

Statement of Objects and Reasons for general information:-

L.A.Bill No. 7 of 2026

A Bill further to amend the Tamil Nadu

Panchayats Act, 1994.

Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of

Tamil Nadu in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as

follows:—

(1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu

Panchayats (Amendment) Act, 2026.

Short title and

commencement.

(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 6th

day of January 2026.

Tamil Nadu Act 21

of 1994.

In section 261-A of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994

(hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), for the expression

“upto the 5th day of January 2026”, the expression “upto the 5th

day of July 2026” shall be substituted.

Amendment of

section 261-A.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the principal Act,

the Special Officers appointed by the Government to exercise the

powers and discharge the functions of the village panchayats,

panchayat union councils or the district panchayats other than

the panchayats in the districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu,

Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Tirunelveli,

and Tenkasi with effect on and from the 6th day of January 2026,

shall be deemed to have been appointed as such Special Officers

under section 261-A of the principal Act, as amended by this

Act, and anything done or any action taken by the said Special

Officers during the period commencing on and from the 6th day

of January 2026 and ending with the date of publication of this Act

in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, shall be deemed to have

been validly done or taken under the principal Act, as amended

by this Act.

Validation.

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TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The municipal councils of Tiruvannamalai, Karaikudi, Pudukkottai and Namakkal have been

upgraded as municipal corporations by including certain village panchayats under clause (c) of sub-

section (1) of section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act,1998 (Tamil Nadu Act 9 of 1999),

with effect on and from the 12th August 2024.

2. Amalgamation of the said village panchayats with the municipalities will lead to decrease in the

total number of village panchayats in the respective panchayat union councils and district panchayats

and it will reflect in the overall process of delimitation and thereafter reservation of seats and office for

the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women. Likewise, proposals

are under active consideration of the Government for expansion of many municipal corporations,

municipal councils and town panchayats by including certain village panchayats adjoining to these

urban local bodies in 28 Districts. Finalisation of these proposals and notification of expanded urban

local bodies will also alter the boundaries of village panchayats, panchayat union councils and

district panchayats. After completion of the reorganisation process, definite timeline is required for

delimitation of wards and thereafter reservation of seats and office for the persons belonging to

the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women, which are the fundamental requirements for

conducting elections to the said panchayats.

3. The Hon’ble High Court of Madras in its Order, dated 21.12.2024 in W.P No.39526 of 2024

and W.M.P.No.42808 of 2024 has disposed the said Writ Petition after recording the submission of

the Additional Advocate General that without completion of delimitation and the process required for

announcing reservations, the election for panchayats will not be notified.

4. In the meantime, the tenure of elected representatives of panchayats in 28 districts other than

the panchayats in the districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Vellore,

Ranipet, Tirupathur, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi was due to expire on the 5th January 2025. Since, the

ordinary election to the said panchayats in 28 districts could not be conducted before the 5th January

2025, because of the non-completion of the process of delimitation/reservation of wards, section

261-A of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994) had been amended by

the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Tamil Nadu Act 6 of 2025) so as to enable the

Government to appoint Special Officers for the panchayats in the said 28 districts to administer the

aforesaid panchayats till ordinary elections to the said panchayats are held or till the 5th July 2025,

whichever is earlier. The term has further been extended upto the 5th day January 2026 vide the

Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Fourth Amendment) Act, 2025 (Tamil Nadu Act 53 of 2025)

5. The term of office of the Special Officers appointed as per section 261-A of the said

Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994 was due to expire on the 5th January 2026. Since the process of

reorganisation, delimitation of wards and reservation of wards in panchayats would require some

more time, it was not possible to conduct ordinary election to the said panchayats on or before the

5th January 2026. However, in order to administer the day to day affairs of the panchayats in the

said 28 districts, the Government issued orders extending the term of Special Officers for 28 districts

appointed under section 261-A of the said Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994 to exercise the powers and

discharging functions of village panchayats, panchayat unions councils and district panchayats with

effect from 06.01.2026 to 05.07.2026.

6. In view of the circumstances stated above, the Government have decided to amend the

Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994) so as to enable the Government to

extend the term of office of the Special Officers for a further period of six months upto the 5th July 2026

or until the first meeting of village panchayats, panchayat union councils and the district panchayats,

is held after the ordinary elections to the said panchayats, whichever is earlier and to validate the

action of the Government having extended the term of Special Officers in the said 28 districts beyond

the 5th January 2026 till the date of publication of this Act in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

7. The Bill seeks to give effect to the above decision.

I. PERIYASAMY,

Minister of Rural Development.

Secretariat,

Chennai,

K. SRINIVASAN,

24th January 2026.

Principal Secretary.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

107

Under Rule 130 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules, the

following Bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the

State of Tamil Nadu on 24th January, 2026 is published together with

Statement of Objects and Reasons for general information:-

L.A.Bill No. 8 of 2026

A Bill further to amend the Tamil Nadu Agricultural

Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1987.

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of

Tamil Nadu in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as

follows:—

1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Agricultural

Produce Marketing (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.

Short title and

commencement.

(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the

30^thday of November 2025.

Tamil Nadu

Act 27 of 1989.

2. In section 33 of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing

(Regulation) Act, 1987 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act),

in the proviso to sub-section (1), for the expression “fourteen years

and six months”, the expression “fifteen years and six months” shall

be substituted.

Amendment of

section 33.

Notwithstanding

anything

contained

the

principal

Act, every person exercising the powers and discharging the

functions of a Special Officer of the market committees, with

effect on and from the 30^th day of November 2025, shall be

deemed to have been appointed as such Special Officers under

sub-section (1) of section 33 of the principal Act, as amended by

this Act, and anything done or any action taken by the said Special

Officers during the period commencing on the 30^th day of November

2025 and ending with the date of publication of this Act in the

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, shall be deemed to have been

validly done or taken under the principal Act, as amended by this Act.

Validation.

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TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS.

Sub-section (1) of section 33 of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1987

(Tamil Nadu Act 27 of 1989) empowers the Government to appoint a Special Officer to manage the affairs of a

market committee for a period not exceeding one year at a time and the said period may be extended by the

Government from time to time subject to the condition that the such order of extension shall not remain in force

for more than three years in the aggregate. By virtue of the said provision, Special Officers were appointed

to several market committees to manage its affairs. The maximum period for which such order of extension

shall remain in force was enhanced from time to time beyond the said period of three years, by amending

the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 33 of the said Act. Lastly the maximum period for which an order of

extension shall remain in force was extended to fourteen years and six months by the Tamil Nadu Act 36 of

2024.

2. As some more time is required to nominate members to three of the market committees, namely,

Tiruchirappalli, Cuddalore and Theni, there is a compelling necessity to extend the tenure of the Special

Officers of the said three market committees for a further period of one year beyond the period of fourteen

years and six months permissible under the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 33 of the said Act.

3. Accordingly, the Government have decided to amend the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 33 of

the said Tamil Nadu Act 27 of 1989 to enhance the period specified therein to fifteen years and six months

in order to extend the tenure of the Special Officers of the said three market committees for a further period

of one year and validate the action of the Special Officers of the said three market committees beyond 29^th

November 2025.

4. The Bill seeks to give effect to the above said decision.

M.R.K. PANNEERSELVAM,

Minister for Agriculture-Farmers Welfare.

Secretariat,

Chennai,

K. SRINIVASAN,

24th January 2026.

Principal Secretary.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

109

Under Rule 130 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules, the

following Bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the

State of Tamil Nadu on 24th January, 2026 is published together with

Statement of Objects and Reasons for general information:-

L.A.Bill No. 9 of 2026

A Bill further to amend the

Tamil Nadu Prevention of Begging Act, 1945

Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of

Tamil Nadu in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as

follows:—

1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Prevention of

Begging (Amendment) Act, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force at once.

Short title and

commencement.

Tamil Nadu Act XIII

of 1945.

2. In section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Begging Act,

1945 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), the expression

“and the provisions of sections 10-A,12-A and 23 shall apply if

the State Government have notified any leper asylum appointed

under section 3 of the Lepers Act, 1898 (Central Act III of 1898)

as a special home under clause (2) of section 2” at the end shall

be omitted.

Amendment of

section 4.

3. In section 6 of the principal Act, the expression “or section

12-A ” shall be omitted.

Amendment of

section 6.

4. In section 10 of the principal Act, the expression “other

than a person who is a leper” shall be omitted.

Amendment of

section 10.

5. Section 10-A of the principal Act shall be omitted.

Omission of section

10-A.

6. In section 11 of the principal Act, for the expression

section 8,9,10 or 10-A, the expression “section 8,9 or 10” shall

be substituted.

Amendment of

section 11.

7. Section 12-A of the principal Act shall be omitted.

Omission of section

12-A.

8. In section 15 of the principal Act, in the proviso to

sub-section (2), the expression “a contagious leper or” shall be

omitted.

Amendment of

section 15.

9. In section 23 of the principal Act ,—

(1) in the marginal heading, the expression “lepers and”

shall be omitted.

(2) in sub-section (2),—

(a) clause (a) shall be omitted;

(b) in clause (b), the expression “other than leprosy”

shall be omitted.

Amendment of

section 23.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

111

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its order dated 07.05.2025 in W.P(Civil) No.83 of 2010 has directed

to constitute a Committee to identify all the State laws, pre or post Constitution where the discriminating

expressions in respect of the leprosy affected or cured persons are still part of the Statute book including

the subordinate legislations and also directed that the Committee to make recommendations to the State

Government for suitable amendments therein.

2. It is identified that some of the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Begging Act,1945

(Tamil Nadu Act XIII of 1945) are discriminating the leprosy affected or cured persons. In compliance of

the above order of the Supreme Court of India, the Government have decided to omit such discriminatory

provisions of the said Tamil Nadu Act XIII of 1945.

3. The Bill seeks to give effect to the above decision.

P. GEETHA JEEVAN,

Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment.

Secretariat,

Chennai,

K. SRINIVASAN,

24th January 2026.

Principal Secretary.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

113

Under Rule 130 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules, the

following Bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the

State of Tamil Nadu on 24th January, 2026 is published together with

Statement of Objects and Reasons for general information:-

L.A.Bill No. 10 of 2026

A Bill further to amend the Tamil Nadu Schools

(Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009.

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of

Tamil Nadu in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as

follows: —

1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Schools

(Regulation of Collection of Fee) Amendment Act, 2026.

Short title and

Commencement.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State

Government may, by notification, appoint.

Tamil Nadu Act 22

of 2009.

2. In section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of

Collection of Fee) Act, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as the principal

Act), in clause (j),—

(1) the expression “or code of regulation” shall be omitted;

(2) under the Explanation, clause (1) shall be omitted.

Amendment of

section 2.

3. In section 5 of the principal Act,—

(1) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“(2) The committee shall consist of the following members,

namely:—

Amendment of

section 5.

(a) a retired High Court

Judge, nominated by the

Government, in consultation

with the Chief Justice of

High Court of Madras

Chairperson;

(b) The Director of School

Education

Ex-officio Member;

Schools

Ex-officio Member;

(d) The Director of Elementary

Education

Ex-officio Member;

(e) Joint Chief Engineer

(Buildings), Public Works

Department

Ex-officio Member;

(f) A parent who is a member

of the Tamil Nadu

State Parent-Teachers

Association to be nominated

by the Government

Member;

(g) An officer not below the

rank of Deputy Secretary

to Government, School

Education Department.

Ex-officio Member-

Secretary.”;

114

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(2) after sub-section (4), the following sub-sections shall be

added, namely:—

“(4-A) The member nominated under clause (f) of sub-section

(2) shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his

nomination:

Provided that when the office of the nominated member

becomes vacant for any reason, a new member shall be nominated

in his place and such member shall hold office so long as the

member whose place he fills would have been entitled to hold

office, if such vacancy had not occurred:

Provided further that such member shall cease to be a member

of the said committee from the date on which he ceases to be a

member of the Tamil Nadu State Parent -Teachers Association.

(4-B) The member nominated under clause (f) of sub-section

(2) may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Government,

resign his office but he shall continue to hold office until his

resignation is accepted by the Government.

(4-C) If, at any time, it appears to the Government that the

member nominated under clause (f) of sub-section (2) has shown

himself to be unsuitable for office or has been guilty of misconduct

or neglect which renders his removal expedient, the Government

may, after giving the nominated member a reasonable opportunity

of showing cause, remove the nominated member, from the office.

(4-D) The member nominated under clause (f) of sub-section

(2) shall be eligible to draw such sitting fee and other allowances

as may be prescribed.”.

Amendment of

section 6.

4. In section 6 of the principal Act, —

(1) in sub-section (3), for the expression “fifteen days”, the

expression “thirty days” shall be substituted;

(2) for sub-section (5), the following sub-section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“(5) The fee determined by the committee shall be binding

on the private schools and valid for a period of three academic

years.”;

(3) after sub-section (5) as so substituted, the following sub-

section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(5-A) Every private school shall, before the expiry of the

validity of the fee determined under sub-section (5), submit an

application for revision of fee, within such time, in such form

accompanied with such scrutiny fee as may be prescribed.”.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

115

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009 (Tamil Nadu Act 22 of 2009) was

enacted to provide for the regulation of collection of fees by private schools in the State of Tamil Nadu through

the fixation of fee by the Fee Determination Committee, with a view to ensure that such fees are reasonable,

justifiable, and imposed only for bona fide educational purposes.

2. Now, it has been proposed to induct a parent member from the Tamil Nadu State Parent-Teachers

Association as a member of the said Committee in order to give representation to parents in the Fee Committee.

Further, it is also proposed to include the Director of Private Schools in lieu of the Director of Matriculation

Schools in the said Committee since the post of Director of Matriculation Schools has been subsumed within

the Director of Private Schools, and also to nominate a Government officer not below the rank of Deputy

Secretary to Government in the said Committee to ensure administrative flexibility and continuity in the function

of the Committee. Apart from that, in order to provide reasonable opportunity for making objections against the

decision of the Fee Determination Committee regarding the fee structure, it is proposed to enhance the time

limit provided for filing objections from “fifteen days” to “thirty days” from the date of receipt of the decision of

the said Committee. Further, it has also been proposed to incorporate an enabling provision for mandatory

submission of application for revision of fee to the said committee once in every three years, before the expiry

of the validity of the fee determined by the committee.

3. To achieve the said purpose, suitable provisions have to be incorporated in the said Tamil Nadu Act 22

of 2009. The Government have therefore decided to amend the said Tamil Nadu Act 22 of 2009 suitably for

the above purposes.

4. The Bill seeks to give effect to the above decisions.

ANBIL MAHESH POYYAMOZHI,

Minister for School Education.