Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act, 2020 (No. 2 of 2020).

This Act concerns water resources management in the Indian state of Punjab. The government of Punjab shall establish the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority as a body corporate. The Authority shall have and maintain a separate Fund to be called the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority Fund. There shall also be an Advisory Committee on Water Resources. The Authority shall consult the Advisory Committee on major questions of policy and regarding regulatory directions proposed to be issued to the general public or to a class of water users. The Government shall constitute the Punjab State Council for Water Management and Development, which shall be the overarching body to consider and steer the policies and programmes of the State to supply quality water to all persons at affordable costs and prices and ensuring optimal judicious utilization of water resources of the State. it shall, among other things, approve, review or modify the Punjab State Water Policy and the Integrated State Water Plan.
For the purpose of the Integrated State Water Plan, the Government may divide the State into different categories based on the stage of groundwater development, the trend of groundwater level depletion, the level of water table, quality of groundwater, availability of surface water or other relevant criteria, as it may deem appropriate in view of the local conditions. The Authority shall ensure development, management and conservation of water resources of the State in accordance with the Integrated State Water Plan and may issue directions regarding the development, management, or use of water as specified, but it shall not impose any ban on extraction of groundwater for drinking or domestic use. The Authority shall periodically issue tariff orders specifying the charges to be imposed by entities supplying water for commercial or industrial use but charges for supplying water by entities for drinking, domestic and agriculture purposes shall be as per the policy of the Government notified from time to time.
Other provisions of the Act concern appointment of enquiry officers, inspections and investigations of the Authority and powers of the Authority and inspection officers in this respect. For certain proceedings, the Authority shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure.