The Department of Conservation and Development is empowered to lease or, in its discretion, use as residence for its employees connected with the maintenance of said canal, such canal lands and dwellings as will not interfere with the operation of the same as herein provided and the Department of Conservation and Development is empowered to lease, for industrial or other purposes, such canal lands as may, in the opinion of the department, be suitable for such use and as will not, in the opinion of the department, unreasonably interfere with the use of said canal as a source of industrial water supply and for recreational and park purposes as hereinafter provided for.

L.1944, c. 272, p. 660, s. 6.