11. Limits of the Brahmaputra Valley.—(1) As soon as may be after the commencement of this
Act, the Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, demarcate the limits of the
Brahmaputra Valley for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Board shall perform such of its functions and exercise such of the powers within such areas in
the Brahmaputra Valley as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify
from time to time:
Provided that before issuing any notification in respect of any area under this sub-section, the Central
Government shall consult the Government of the State within which such area is situated.
12. Master Plan for the control of floods, etc., in the Brahmaputra Valley.—(1) Subject to the
other provisions of this Act and the rules, the Board shall carry out surveys and investigations in the
Brahmaputra Valley and prepare a Master Plan for the control of floods and bank erosion and
improvement of drainage in the Brahmaputra Valley:
Provided that the Board may prepare the Master Plan in parts with reference to different areas of the
Brahmaputra Valley or with reference to different matters relating to such areas and may, as often as it
considers necessary so to do, revise the Master Plan or any part thereof.
(2) In preparing the Master Plan, the Board shall have regard to the development and utilization of the
water resources of the Brahmaputra Valley for irrigation, hydro power, navigation and other beneficial
purposes and shall, as far as possible, indicate in such plan the works and other measures which may be
undertaken for such development.
(3) The Master Plan shall be submitted to the Central Government as soon as may be after it has been
prepared or, as the case may be, revised and the Central Government shall, after consultation with the
State Governments concerned, approve the same subject to such modifications as it may deem fit.
13. Other functions of the Board.—(1) The Board shall also—
(a) prepare detailed reports and estimates in respect of the dams and other projects proposed in
the Master Plan as approved by the Central Government and indicate in each case the cost attributable
to different purposes or uses;
(b) draw up standards and specifications for the construction, operation and maintenance of such
dams and other projects;
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(c) construct, with the approval of the Central Government, multi-purpose dams and works
connected therewith proposed in the Master Plan as approved by the Central Government and
maintain and operate such dams and works;
(d) prepare, in consultation with the State Governments concerned, a phased programme for the
construction by the State Governments of all dams and other projects proposed in the Master Plan as
approved by the Central Government other than those referred to in clause (c);
(e) perform any other such function which may be prescribed for the proper implementation of
this Act;
(f) perform such other functions as are supplemental, incidental or consequential to the functions
specified in section 12 or in clauses (a) to (d), or prescribed under clause (e), of this sub-section.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (d) of sub-section (1), the Board may, with the prior
approval of the Central Government, construct any dam or project referred to in that clause if it is
satisfied, having regard to the cost of construction, and the expertise required for the construction, of any
such dam or project, that it is expedient so to do.
(3) The Board may maintain and operate any dam or project referred to in sub-section (2) for so long
as it deems it necessary so to do.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “multi-purpose dam” means a dam which is
constructed for purposes of flood control and for other purposes.
14. Conditions subject to which the Board may perform its functions.—The performance by the
Board of the functions specified in, or prescribed under, sections 12 and 13 shall be subject to the
following conditions, namely:—
(a) no multi-purpose dam referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 13 shall be
constructed by the Board unless the State Governments concerned make available the land required
for the purpose;
(b) no dam or project referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 13 shall be constructed
by the Board unless the State Governments concerned make available free of cost the land required
for its execution and also undertake to take over its maintenance on and from the expiry of such
period after its completion as may be specified by the Board;
(c) no dam or other works shall be undertaken by the Board unless the State Governments
concerned agree to provide all such assistance as may be required for the construction , operation and
maintenance thereof;
(d) such other conditions (including conditions relating to the sharing by the State Governments
concerned of the whole or any part of cost of dam or other works constructed by the Board) as may be
specified by the Central Government by general or special order published in the Official Gazette:
Provided that before undertaking the construction of any such dam or other works, the Board shall
apprise the State Governments concerned of the cost of construction of, and the benefits likely to accrue
from, such dam or other works and the proportion in which the State Governments shall share such cost
and benefits:
Provided further that if the Board and the State Governments are unable to agree in respect of the
sharing of the cost and benefits of any such dam or other works, the Board shall refer the matter to the
Central Government for decision and the Central Government shall decide such matter after consulting
the State Governments and the decision of the Central Government shall be final.
15. General powers of the Board.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules, the Board
shall have the power to do anything which may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of performing
its functions under this Act.
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(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the Board may—
(a) publish statistics or other information relating to various aspects of flood control, bank erosion
and drainage in the Brahmaputra Valley;
(b) require the State Governments concerned to furnish to it information relating to the measures
undertaken by them for the control of floods and bank erosion and improvement of drainage in the
Brahmaputra Valley, topographical, meteorological and hydrological and other related data and such
other information as the Board may require for the performance of its functions under this Act.
16. Forwarding of, and Consultation with respect to, plans, etc., prepared by the
Board.—(1) The Board shall forward copies of the Master Plan, reports, estimates, standards and
specifications prepared by it to the Central Government and the State Governments concerned.
(2) The Central Government and the State Governments concerned may consult the Board with
regard to any matters connected with, or arising out of, such plan, reports, estimates or standards and
specifications.
(3) If, for any reason, a State Government considers it necessary to execute any project for the control
of floods and bank erosion and drainage work in the Brahmaputra Valley and such project is not
envisaged in the Master Plan or such project is intended to be executed by the State Government in a
manner not in conformity with the Master Plan, the State Government may consult the Board with regard
to the execution of the project and the Board may make such recommendations as it may deem fit:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall be construed as imposing any requirement on
any State Government to consult the Board with regard to the execution of any works which have become
urgently necessary by reason of any emergency or other extraordinary circumstances.