Govt. have passed A.P. Water, Land and Trees Act 2002,
and Rules 2002, to promote water conservation and tree cover and to regulate
the exploitation and use of ground and surface water for protection and
conservation of water sources, land and matters connected therewith or
incidental thereto.
In G.O.Ms.No.224 P.R. and R.D.(RD IV)
Dept.,dt.15-06-2002, Govt. have communicated the AP Water, Land and Trees
Rules 2002 which were came into force w.e.f 15-06-2002.
According to Rule 9(1)(a) of Rules 2002, the MRO is
designated as the Ex-Officio Chairman of the Mandal Authority. According to
Rule 10 he along with other members shall conduct meetings. The member
secretary i.e., the Asst. Executive Engineer, Rural Water Supply has to fix
the time, date & place of the meeting of Mandal Authority with the
approval of the Chairman/MRO.
All decisions in the meeting shall be decided by a
majority of votes of the members present by raising of hands for approval of
decision.
WELLS : 
The Mandal Authority shall have to ensure that, every
owner of the well in his jurisdiction, to register his well with the Mandal
Authority (Rule 11) obtains permission for new wells on payment of fee (Rule
12) Impose conditions for such permission (Rule 13), regulate wells in over
exploited areas (Rule 14) taking over of well to ensure drinking water (Rule
15) Registration of Rigs (Rule 17) Prohibition of Water contamination (Rule
18) Land use and water quality (Rule 19) Water Cess (Rule 20) modification of
land use and ceiling on water use (Rules 21 and 22).
SAND MINING:
According to Rule 23 of APWLAT Rules 2002, in areas
where sand mining is affecting the ground water regime, such of the areas
shall be notified and transportation of sand shall be banned in category I,
II & III ground water micro basins/Mandals and for other areas,
conditions stipulated in the Rule 23 are applicable.
TREE PLANTING :
According to Rule 24 of the APWLAT Rule 2002, every
owner of a residential area, /commercial area shall have to plant small or
medium variety of plant as prescribed in sub rule (i) and (ii) of rule 24.
The local authority having jurisdiction shall grant building permission
subject to the condition that the owner shall plant prescribed number of
trees.
The owner of the premises who desires to fell a tree
have to apply in writing to the designated officer (to be appointed by the
Govt. or District Authority by a separate order sub rule 4 and 5 of Rule 3)
for permission to fell the tree by paying Rs.50/- in urban areas and Rs.25/-
in rural areas. The designated officer should dispose the application within
15 days from the date of receipt of application by him (24 (4 to 6)) the
permission to fell a tree may be granted subject to the condition that the
applicant shall plant another two trees within 30 days from the date the tree
is felled in the same place or at other suitable place.
OFFENCES (Rule 25)
Any violation of the provisions of the act & rules
shall be booked in the offence report in form 4. The designated authority can seize any instrument or
machinery, or any other device, vehicles or other conveyance or any other
movable property used in or involved in committing such offence.
COMPOUNDING OFFENCES (Rule 26)
The designated officer may compound the offences, as
per the quantum of compounding fee prescribed in sub rules i, ii & iii of
rule 26(1).
APPEAL (Rule 27)
Any person aggrieved by any order made by the
designated officer may appeal to the dist. authority within 30 days from the
date of receipt of order.
AP WATER, LAND & TREES AUTHORITY FUND (Rule 29)
The amount received by Mandal/District/State Authority
shall be credited to the respective authority by way of cash or D.D. in a
Govt. A/c to the operated by jointly by member secretary and chairman of the
authority.
ANNUAL REPORT (Rule 30)
The annual report of the authority about its activities
in an year in the format prescribed by the Govt. has to be sent to Govt. as
per due date fixed by the Govt.
