The Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act,1956
Section 23. Powers of inspection
(1) The competent authority may, by general or special order, authorise any person
(a) To inspect any drain, latrine, urinal, cesspool, pipe, sewer or channel in or on any building or land in a slum area, and in his discretion to cause the ground to be opened for the purpose of preventing or removing any nuisance arising from the drain, latrine, urinal, cesspool, pipe, sewer or channel, as the case may be;
(b) To examine works under construction in the slum area, to take levels or to remove, test, examine, replace or read any meter.
(2) If, on such inspection, the opening of the ground is found to be necessary for the prevention or removal of a nuisance, the expenses thereby incurred shall be paid by the owner or occupier of the land or building, but if it is found that no nuisance exists of but for such opening would have arisen, the ground or portion of any building, drain, or other work opened, injured or removed for the purpose of such inspection shall be filled in, reinstated, or made good, as the case may be, by the competent authority.
