20HRevocation or suspension etc of authority

20H Revocation or suspension etc of authority

20H Revocation or suspension etc of authority

(1) If at any time during the currency of an authority the Ministerial Corporation is satisfied that—

(a) the holders or any of the holders of the authority have or has conserved, diverted, taken or used any quantity of water in excess of the quantity authorised by the authority,

(b) any land has been irrigated as to an area in excess of that authorised by the authority,

(c) the holders or any of the holders of the authority have or has used the work in respect of which the authority is held for a purpose other than that authorised by the authority,

(d) the holders or any of the holders of the authority have or has contravened or failed to comply with any of the terms, limitations or conditions to which the authority is subject,

(e) any water diverted, taken or used by any of the holders of the authority is not being beneficially used or is being wasted, or

(f) beneficial use is not being made of the work in respect of which the authority is held,

the Ministerial Corporation may serve on the holders of the authority a notice that, after the expiration of a period specified in the notice, the authority will be revoked, suspended or modified as indicated in the notice, and where any such notice is served, unless the Ministerial Corporation annuls or withdraws the notice before the expiration of the period so specified, the authority shall, on the expiration of that period, be deemed to be revoked, suspended or modified, as the case may be.

(2) If in the opinion of the Ministerial Corporation there are circumstances which render it necessary or expedient—

(a) that any authority should be suspended or modified,

(b) that the quantity of water authorised to be taken under any authority should be reduced, or

(c) that a right held under any authority for the taking of water for any purpose from a river, lake or section of a river should be restricted or suspended,

the Ministerial Corporation may serve on the holders of the authority a notice to that effect, and where any such notice is served, the authority shall be deemed to be suspended or modified, or the quantity of water reduced or, as the case may be, the right restricted or suspended, according to the tenor of the notice.