Section 2, No. 5 National Water Resources Management Agency Act 2017No. 5 National Water Resources Management Agency Act 2017

(1) There is hereby established a body to be known asthe National Water Resources Management Agency which shall be resposible to ensure that the water resources of the country are controlled in a sustainable manner taking into account: (a) adopting natural river basin and aquifer boundaries as the basic units of management of water resources; (b) protecting the water resources for sustainability of the resource and protection of aquatic systems and recognizing the polluter-pays principle; Establishment of National Water Resources No. 5 National Water Resources Management Agency Act 2017No. 5 National Water Resources Management Agency Act 2017 (c) providing for existing customary uses of water and avoidance of significant harm to other users; (d) promoting the efficient and beneficial use of water resources in the public interest; (e) promoting community participation and gender equity in the allocation of water (f) promoting conservation and recognizing the economic value of water resources; (g) reducing and preventing pollution and degradation of water resources; and (h) meeting international obligations in protecting and managing transboundary water bodies. (2) The Agency shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and capable of acquiring, holding and disposing of any property, whether movable or immovable, and of suing and being sued in its corporate name and, subject to this Act, of performing all such acts as bodies corporate may by law perform. (3) The Agency shall have a common seal, the use of which shall be authenticated by the signatures of - (a) the Chairman or other member of the Board authorised either generally or specially by the Board in that behalf; and (b) the Director-General or some other person authorised by the Board in that behalf. (4) The Agency and other water institutions established by this Act shall in the performance of their duties be guided by the following principles: (a) consultation and participation of relevant state institutions, local communities, women and other relevant stakeholders (b) management of water resources at the lowest possible level (c) administrative efficiency transparency and accountability; and (d) promotion of integrated water resources management. (5) In implementing the principles under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the Agency established under this Act shall promote the integrated water resources management and the coordinated management of: (a) economic development, social welfare and environmental sustainability; (b) land and water resources (c) the river basin and its adjacent marine and coastal environment; and (d) upstream and downstrem interests.