In force · As amended up to 2026-08
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;
(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.
Source: India Code