Andhra Pradesh Farmers’ Management of Irrigation Systems Act, 1997

THE ANDHRA PRADESH FARMERS' MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ACT, 1997 ACT No. 11 OF 1997

(1) This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh Farmers’ Management of Irrigation Systems Act, 1997. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, appoint and they may appoint different dates for different areas and for different provisions.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) “area of operation” in relation to farmers organisation means a contiguous block of land in the command area of an irrigation system as may be notified for the purposes of this Act; (b) “ayacut road” means a road within the area of operation of a farmers’ organisation for the purpose of irrigation and agriculture but does not include a road vested in a Gram Panchayat, 1[Mandal Parishad, Zilla Parishad,] Municipality, Municipal Corporation or Roads and Buildings Department of the Government; 2[(bb) “Chief Engineer” means the Chief Engineer of 3[Water Resources] Department, who is incharge of concerned Farmers Organisations; (bbb) “Commissioner” means an officer appointed by the Government as Commissioner under section 33;] (c) “command area” means an area irrigated or capable of being irrigated either by gravitational flow or by lift irrigation or by any other method from a government or the corporation source and includes every such area whether it is called ‘ayacut’ or by any other name under any law for the time being in force; 1. Throughout the Act Reference to the words “Mandal Parishad” and “Zilla Parishad” shall respectively be construed as “Mandal Praja Parishad” and “Zilla Praja Parishad” by the Act No.41 of 2006, S.3. 2. Inserted by the Act No. 7 of 2003, S.2. 3. Substituted by the Act No.4 of 2018, S.2. 1[(d) “Competent authority (Agriculture)” means an officer of the Agriculture Department appointed as such under section 21; (dd) “Competent authority (Engineering)” means an officer of an Engineering Department appointed as such under section 21;] (e) “corporation” means the Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Development Corporation constituted under the Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Development Corporation Act,1997 (Act 12 of 1997) (f) “distributory system” means and includes,- (i) all main canals, branch canals, distributories and minor canals constructed for the supply and distribution of water for irrigation; (ii) all works, structures and appliances connected with the distribution of water for irrigation; and (iii) all field channels and other related channels and structures under a pipe outlet; (g) “District Collector” means the collector of the district in which the irrigation system is situate and includes any officer specially notified by the Government to perform all or any of the functions of the District Collector under this Act; (h) “drainage system” in relation to an irrigation system includes,- (i) channels either natural or artificial, for the discharge of waste or surplus water and all works connected therewith or ancillary thereto; (ii) escape channels from an irrigation or distribution system and other works connected therewith, but does not include works for removal of sewage; (iii) all collecting drains and main drains to drain off surplus water from field drains; and (iv) all field drains and related structures under pipe outlets; (i) “farmers’ organisation” wherever it occurs, shall mean and include,- (i) water users association at the primary level consisting of all the water users, as constituted under section 3; (ii) distributory committee at the secondary level, as constituted under section 5; and (iii) project committee at the project level, as constituted under section 7; (j) “field channel” includes a channel existing or to be constructed by the Government or by the land holders or by any agency to receive and distribute water from a pipe outlet; (k) “field drain” includes a channel excavated and maintained by the land holder or by any other agency, to discharge waste or surplus water from the land holding under a pipe outlet; and includes drains, escape channels and other similar works existing or to be constructed; (l) “financial year” means a year commencing from the 1st April of the relevant year to the 31st March of the ensuing year; (m) “financing agency” means any commercial bank, or any co-operative society or any other bank or organisation established or incorporated 1. For clause (d) clauses (d) and (dd) substituted by Act No.7 of 2003, S.2. under any law, for the time being in force, which lends money for the development of the area of operation of the farmers’ organisation; (n) “Government” means the State Government of Andhra Pradesh; (o) “hydraulic basis” means the basis for identifying a viable irrigated area served by one or more hydraulic structures such as headworks, distributories, minors, pipe outlets and the like; (p) “irrigation system” means such major, medium and minor irrigation system for harnessing water for irrigation and other allied uses from Government or Corporation source and includes reservoirs, open head channels, diversion systems, anicuts, lift irrigation schemes, tanks, wells and the like; Explanation: (1) ‘Major Irrigation system’ means irrigation system under Major Irrigation Project having irrigable command area of more than 10,000 hectares 1[Such system may have three tiered Farmers Organisation, namely;- (i) Water Users Association at primary level; (ii) Distributory Committee at Secondary level; and (iii) Project Committee at Project level;] (2) ‘Medium Irrigation system’ means irrigation system under Medium Irrigation Project having irrigable command area of more than 2000 hectares and upto 10,000 hectares 2[Such system may have two tiered Farmers Organisation, namely:- (i) Water Users Association at primary level; and (ii) Project Committee at Project level.] (3) ‘Minor Irrigation system’ means irrigation system under minor irrigation project having irrigable command area upto 2,000 hectares 3[Such system may have single tiered Farmers Organisation, namely:- Water Users Association;] (q) “land holder” means an owner and or a tenant recorded as such in the record of rights under the Andhra Pradesh Record of Rights in Land Act, 1971 (Act 26 of 1971) in respect of land in the notified ayacut area of an irrigation system; (r) “maintenance” means execution of such works on the irrigation system as are necessary to ensure that the physical system designed to the standards operates for proper distribution of water to the land holders in the area of operation; (s) “notification” means a notification published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, and the expression ‘notified’ shall be construed accordingly; (t) “operational plan” means a schedule of irrigation deliveries with details of the mode and duration of supplies drawn up for regulation of irrigation in the command area of an irrigation system; (u) “prescribed” means prescribed by the Government by rules made under this Act; 4[(uu) “Superintending Engineer” means the Superintending Engineer of 5[Water Resources] Department incharge of concerned Farmers’ Organisations;] 1. Added by the Act No.7 of 2003, S.2. 2. Added by the Act No.7 of 2003, S.2. 3. Added by the Act No.7 of 2003, S.2. 4.Inserted by the Act No.7 of 2003, S.2. 5. Substituted by the Act No.4 of 2018, S.2. (v) “warabandi” means a system of distribution of water allocation to water users by turn according to an approved schedule indicating the day, duration and the time of supply; (w) “water allocation" in relation to an irrigation system means distribution of water determined from time to time by a farmers' organisation in its area of operation; (x) “water user” means and includes any individual or body corporate or a society using water for agriculture, domestic, power, non-domestic, commercial, industrial or any other purpose from a government or the corporation source of irrigation. (2) The words and expressions used in this Act, but not defined, shall have the same meaning assigned to them in the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Utilisation and Command Area Development Act, 1984 (Act 15 of 1984).

(1) The District Collector may, by notification and in accordance with the rules made under this Act, in this behalf, delineate every command area under each of the irrigation systems on a hydraulic basis which may be administratively viable; and declare it to be a water users’ area for the purpose of this Act: Provided that in respect of the command area under the minor and lift irrigation systems, the entire command area may, as far as possible, form a single water users’ area. (2) 1[Every water users Area shall be divided into Territorial Constituencies which shall be 2[a minimum of six and a maximum of twelve depending on the extent of command area and Administrative feasibility.]] (3) There shall be a water users’ association called by its local distinct name for every water users' area delineated under sub-section (1). (4) Every water users’ association shall consist of the following members, namely:- (i) all the water users who are land holders in a water users area: Provided that where both the owner and the tenant are land holders in respect of the same land, the tenant; 3[Provided further that any person who is in lawful possession and enjoyment of the land under a water source, on proof of such possession and such enjoyment in a crop year, may claim membership notwithstanding whether he is a recorded land holder or not, in which case the Water Users Association shall not refuse the membership of such person for the purposes of this Act, and such person shall be liable to pay the water charges and the fees as may be prescribed as if he is a land holder under a water source.] (ii) all other water users co-opted in a water users’ area; (iii) members specified in clause (i) and (ii) shall constitute the general body for a water users association; 1. Substituted by the Act No.7 of 2003, S.3. 2. Substituted by the Act No.4 of 2018, S.3. 3. Added by the Act No.1 of 1999, S.2. (iv) a person eligible to become a member of more than one territorial constituency of a water users association under clause (i) shall be entitled to be a member of only one territorial constituency and he shall exercise his option thereof as prescribed; (v) members specified in clause (1) shall alone have the right to vote.

(1) There shall be a Managing Committee for each Water Users’ Association comprising members of the Territorial Constituencies as specified in sub-section (2) of section 3 selected by the Water Users as specified in clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 3 of the Act from their respective Territorial Constituencies: Provided that two members nominated by the Gram Panchayat of whom one shall be a woman, shall be the members of the Managing Committees of Minor Irrigation Water Users’ Associations, without voting rights, in the manner prescribed. (2) [XXXX] (3) The term of office of the members of the Territorial Constituencies shall, if not recalled or removed or disqualified under the provisions of the Act, shall be five years from the date of first meeting of the Managing Committee appointed by the Commissioner: [XXXX] (4) If any vacancy arises in a territorial constituencies for any valid reasons for such vacancy shall be filled up as per sub-section (1) and the member shall hold the office only so long as the member in whose place he is selected would have been entitled to hold office if the vacancy had not occurred. (5) The District Collector shall cause arrangements, for the selection of a managing committee consisting of one member from each of the territorial constituencies of water users area by a simplified procedure of selecting the representative by consensus and where there is no consensus, it shall be by simplified procedure like show of hands or distribution slips in the manner prescribed: Provided that where the selection of the member could not succeed in any of the constituency, the Water User Association member of that constituency identified by the District Collector or any of the officer notified by the District Collector shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the managing committee member of that territorial constituency (6) The District Collector shall also cause arrangements for the election of a President and a Vice-President of the managing committee from among the members of the managing committee of the water users association in the manner prescribed: Provided that where the election of the President or Vice President could could not succeed, the Government may by notification, appoint any of the Managing Committee Member of the Water Users Association or any of the officer, to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the President or Vice President, as the case may be. (7) If at an election held under sub-sections (5) and (6), the President or the Vice-President or the members of the Territorial Constituencies of water users association are not elected, fresh elections shall be held in the manner prescribed. (8) The President and the Vice-President of the Managing Committee of the water users association shall, if not recalled or removed or disqualified by the provisions of the Act, be in office for a period of five years from the date of election or his tenure as member of Territorial Constituency, whichever is earlier. (9) The term of office of the President, the Vice-President and the members of Managing Committee of all the water users associations formed, subsequent processes, shall also expire at the time at which it would have expired, if he had been elected at the ordinary election, be reckoned from the date as appointed by the Commissioner, as specified in sub-section (3). (10) The Managing Committee shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the water users association.

(1) The Government may, by notification and in accordance with the rules made in this behalf, delineate every command area of the irrigation system, comprising of five or more water users associations, and declare it to to be a distributory area for the purpose of this Act. (2) There shall be a distributory committee called by its local distinct name for every distributory area declared as such under sub-section (1). (3) All the Presidents of the water users associations in the distributory area, so long as they hold such office, shall constitute the general body of the committee.

(1) There shall be a managing committee for every Distributory Committee consisting of all the members of the General Body. Provided that all Presidents of the Mandal Parishads within the distributory area nominated by the District Collector shall be the members of the Managing Committee of the Distributory Committee without voting rights, in the manner prescribed. (2) The District Collector shall cause arrangements for the election of the President and Vice-President from among the members of the Managing Committee of the Distributory Committee, in the manner prescribed: Provided that where the election of the President or Vice President could could not succeed, the Government may, by notification, appoint any of the managing committee member of the distributory committee or any of the officer, to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the President or Vice President, as the case may be. (3) [XXXX] (4) The term of office of the President, the Vice-President and the members of the Managing Committee of the Distributory Committee shall, if not recalled or removed or disqualified under the provisions of the Act earlier, be coterminus with the term of the general body specified in sub-section (3) of section 5. (5) The managing committee shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the distributory committee.

(1) The Government may by notification and in accordance with the rules made under this Act, in this behalf, delineate every command area or part thereof, of an irrigation system and declare it to be a project area for the purposes of this Act. (2) There shall be a project committee called by its distinct name for every project area declared under sub-section (1). (3) In Major Irrigation Systems, all the Presidents of the Distributory Committees in the Project Area, so long as they hold such office, shall constitute the general body of the Project Committee: Provided that such Project Committee shall have a minimum strength of five members. (4) In the Medium Irrigation Systems, all the Presidents of the Water Users‟ Association in the project area, so long as they hold such office, shall constitute the general body of the Project Committee: Provided that such Project Committee shall have a minimum strength of five members.

(1) There shall be a Managing Committee for every Project Committee consisting of all the members of the general body: Provided that all Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of the Legislative Council, all the Members of the Parliament and Chairpersons of Zilla Parishads within the Major Project area nominated by the Government shall be the members of the Managing Committee of the Major Project Committee without voting rights, in the manner prescribed: Provided further that all Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of the Legislative Council, all Members of the Parliament and Presidents of Mandal Parishads within the Medium Project area nominated by the District Collector shall be the members of the Managing Committee of the Medium Project Committee without voting rights, in the manner prescribed. (2) The District Collector shall cause arrangements, for the election of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman from among the members of the Managing Committee of the Project Committee, in the manner prescribed: Provided that where the election of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman could not succeed, the Government may, by notification, appoint any of the managing committee member of the project committee or any of the officer, to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, as the case may be. (3) [XXXX] (4) The term of the office of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the members of the Managing Committee of Project Committee shall if not recalled or removed or disqualified under the provisions of the Act earlier, be coterminus with the term of general body specified in sub-section (3) and sub-section (4) of section 7. (5) The managing committee shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the project committee.

(1) The Government may, by notification, constitute an Apex Committee with such number of members as may be considered necessary. (2) The Committee, constituted under sub-section (1), may exercise such powers and functions as may be necessary to,- (a) laydown the policies for implementation of the provisions of this Act; and (b) give such directions to any farmers’ organisation, as may be considered necessary, in exercising their powers and performing their functions in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(1) A motion for recall of a Chairman or Vice-Chairman or President or Vice-President or member of a managing committee, as the case may be, of a farmers’ organisation may be made by giving a written notice as may be prescribed to the competent authority (Engineering) of the respective Farmers Organisation, signed by not less than one-third of the total number of members of the farmers’ organisation, who are entitled to vote: Provided that no notice of motion under this section shall be made within one year of the date of assumption of office by the person against whom the motion is sought to be moved. (2) If the motion is carried with the support of majority of the members present and voting at a meeting of the general body specially convened for the purpose, the competent authority (Engineering) shall by order remove him from office and the resulting vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as a casual vacancy.

The managing Committee of a farmers’ organisation shall constitute sub-committees to carry out all or any of the functions vested in each organisation under this Act.

Every farmers’ organisation shall be a body corporate with a distinct name having perpetual succession and a common seal and subject to the provisions of this Act vested with the capacity of entering into contracts with prior approval of Commissioner, Commend Area Development Authority and of doing all things necessary, proper or expedient for the purposes for which it is constituted and it shall sue or be sued in its corporate name represented by the chairman or the president, as the case may be: Provided that no farmers’ organisation shall have the power to alienate in any manner, any property entrusted to it by the Government for the Operation and maintenance.

The Government or the District Collector may in the interest of a farmers’ organisation in the command area by notification and in accordance with the rules made in this behalf,- (a) form a new farmers’ organisation by separating the area from any farmers’ organisation; (b) increase the area of any farmers’ organisation; (c) diminish the area of any farmers’ organisation; (d) alter the boundaries of any farmers’ organisation; or (e) cancel a notification issued under this Act for rectifying any mistake: Provided that no such separation, increase, diminution, alteration and cancellation shall be effected unless a reasonable opportunity is given to the organisation likely to be effected.

(1) No village servant and no officer or servant of the Government of India or any State Government or of a local authority or an employee of any institution receiving aid from the funds of the Government shall be qualified for being chosen as or for being a Chairman or Vice- Chairman or President or Vice-President or a member of a managing committee. Explanation:- For the purpose of this section the expression ‘village servant’ means any person who holds any of the village offices of neeruganti, neeradi, vetti, kawalkar, toti, talayari, tandalagar, sathsindhi or any such village office by whatever designation it may be locally known. (1A) No Member of Legislative Assembly or Member of Parliament or office bearer of any body constituted under a law made by the Legislative Assembly of the State or of Parliament shall be qualified for being chosen as or for being a Chairman or Vice-Chairman or President or Vice President or member of the Managing Committee. (2) No person who has been convicted by a criminal court for any offence involving moral turpitude committed under any law for the time being in force shall be qualified for being chosen in or for being a Chairman or Vice-Chairman or President or Vice-President or a member of a managing committee. (3) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as or a member of any of the managing committee if on the date fixed for scrutiny of nominations for election, or on the date of nomination he formation is,- (a) of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; (b) an applicant to be adjudicated as an insolvent or an undischarged insolvent; or (c) a defaulter of land revenue or water tax or charges payable either to the Government or to the farmers’ organisation; (d) Interested in a subsisting contract made with, or any work being done for, the Gram Panchayat, Mandal Parishad, Zilla Parishad or any State or Central Government or the farmers’ organisation: Provided that a person shall not be deemed to have any interest in such contract or work by reason only of his having share or interest in- (i) a company as a mere share-holder but not as a director; (ii) any lease, sale or purchase of immovable property or any agreement for the same; or (iii) any agreement for the loan of money or any security for the payment of money only; or (iv) any newspaper in which any advertisement relating to the affairs of the Farmers’ Organisation is inserted. Explanation:- For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that where a contract is fully performed it shall not be deemed to be subsisting merely on the ground that the Gram Panchayat, Mandal Parishad, Zilla Parishad, the Farmers’ Organisation, the State or Central Government has not performed its part of the contractual obligations. (4) a Chairman or Vice- Chairman or President or Vice-President or a member of a managing committee shall also become disqualified to continue in office if he,- (a) is convicted in a criminal case involving moral turpitude; or (b) absents for three consecutive meetings without reasonable cause: Provided that such disqualification under item (b) shall not apply in the case of women who are in an advanced stage of pregnancy and for a period of three months after delivery. (c) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as or for being a Chairman or Vice-Chairman or President or Vice-President or Member of Managing Committee, if he is disqualified by or under any law for the time being in force for the purpose of elections to the Legislative Assembly of the State: Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than twenty five years of age, if he has attained the age of eighteen years. (d) A person shall be disqualified for a period of six years from the date of removal for being chosen as a Chairman or Vice-Chairman or President or Vice-President or Member of the Managing Committee, if he is removed from any post in the farmers’ organization, by the Government or Commissioner or any designated officer as prescribed. (4-A) A member of the Water Users Association shall cease to be a Member or a Chairman or Vice- Chairman or President or Vice-President or a Member of a Managing Committee if he ceases to be a land holder. (5) A person having more than two children shall be disqualified for selection or for continuing as a Chairman or Vice- Chairman or President or or Vice-President or a member of the managing committee. Provided that the birth within one year from the date of commencement of this Act, hereinafter in this section referred to as the date of such commencement, of an additional child shall not be taken into consideration for the purposes of this section: Provided further that a person having more than two children (excluding the child if any born within one year from the date of such commencement) shall not be disqualified under this section for so long as the number of children he had on the date of such commencement does not increase. (6) Any member who is disqualified under this section shall also be disqualified to hold any office in all the tiers of farmers’ organization.

(1) A vacancy arising in a farmers’ organization either due to disqualification under section 14 or death or resignation or by any reason shall be filled in the manner prescribed. (2) The term of office of a member or President or Vice President or Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the farmers’ organization, so filled up under sub-section (1), shall be coterminous with the meaning of General Body. (3) The Commissioner may issue notification for filling up the casual vacancies in all the farmers’ organizations every six months, in the manner prescribed: Provided that no casual vacancy arising within the last six months period of the tenure of the post in farmers’ organizations, shall be filled up.

The objects of the farmers’ organisation shall be to promote and secure distribution of water among its users, adequate maintenance of the irrigation system, efficient and economical utilisation of water to encourage modernization of agriculture to optimise agricultural production, to protect the environment, and to ensure ecological balance by involving the farmers, inculcating a sense of ownership of the irrigation system in accordance with the water budget and the operational plan.

The water users’ association shall perform the following functions, namely:- (a) to prepare and implement a warabandi schedule for each irrigation season, consistent with the operational plan, based upon the entitlement, area, soil and cropping pattern as approved by the distributory committee, or as the case may be, the project committee; (b) to prepare a plan for the maintenance of irrigation system in the area of its operation at the end of each crop season and carry out the maintenance works of both distributory system and minor and field drains in its area of operation with the funds of the association from time to time subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed; (c) to regulate the use of water among the various pipe outlets under its area of operation according to the warabandi schedule of the system; (d) to promote economy in the use of water allocated; (e) to assist the revenue department in the preparation of demand and collection of water rates; (f) to maintain a register of landholders as published by the revenue department; (g) to prepare and maintain a register of co-opted members; (h) to prepare and maintain an inventory of the irrigation system within the area of operation; (i) to monitor flow of water for irrigation; (j) to resolve the disputes, if any, between the members and water users in its area of operation; (k) to raise resources; (l) to maintain accounts; (m) to cause annual audit of its accounts; (n) to assist in the formation of the Managing Committee; (o) to maintain other records as may be prescribed; (p) to abide by the decisions of the distributory and project committees; (q) to conduct general body meetings, as may be prescribed; (r) to encourage avenue plantation on canal bunds and tank bunds by leasing such bunds; (s) to conduct regular water budgeting and also to conduct periodical social audit, as may be prescribed; (t) to encourage modernization of agriculture in its area of operation; and (u) to maintain the feeder channels of minor irrigation tanks by the respective water users association in the manner prescribed.

The distributory committee shall perform the following functions, namely:- (a) to prepare an operational plan based on its entitlement, area, soil, cropping pattern at the beginning of each irrigation season, consistent with the operational plan prepared by the project committee; (b) to prepare a plan for the maintenance of both distributories and medium drains within its area of operation at the end of each crop seasons and execute the maintenance works with the funds of the committee from time to time subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed; (c) to regulate the use of water among the various water users’ associations under its area of operation; (d) to resolve disputes, if any, between the water users’ associations in its area of operation; (e) to maintain a register of water users associations in its area of operation; (f) maintain an inventory of the irrigation system in the area of its operation, including drains; (g) to promote economy in the use of water allocated; (h) to maintain accounts; (i) to cause annual audit; (j) to maintain other records as may be prescribed; (k) to monitor the flow of water for irrigation; (l) to conduct general body meetings as may be prescribed; (m) to abide by the decisions of the project committee; (n) to cause regular water budgeting and also the periodical social audit as may be prescribed; (o) to assist in the formation of the managing committee; (p) to encourage avenue plantations in its area of operation; (q) to encourage modernization of agriculture in its area of operation.

The project committee shall perform the following functions, namely:- (a) to approve an operational plan based on its entitlement, area, soil, cropping pattern as prepared by the competent authority in respect of the entire project area at the beginning of each irrigation season; (b) to approve a plan for the maintenance of irrigation system including the major drains within its area of operation at the end of each crop season and execute the maintenance works with the funds of the committee from time to time 4[ subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed]; (c) to maintain a list of the distributory committees and water users association in its area of operation; (d) to maintain an inventory of the distributory and drainage systems in its area of operation; (e) to resolve disputes if any, between the distributory committees; (f) to promote economy in the use of water; (g) to maintain accounts; (h) to cause annual audit of its accounts; (i) to maintain other records as may be prescribed; (j) to conduct general body meetings as may be prescribed; (k) to cause regular water budgeting and also the periodical social audit as may be prescribed; 5[XXXX] (l) to encourage avenue plantations in its area of operation. 6[ (m) to encourage modernization of agriculture in its area of operation.] operation.]

A farmers’ organisation may, for carrying out the purposes of this Act, achieving the objects of the organisation and performing its functions, levy and collect such fees as may be prescribed from time to time.

7[21. Appointment of competent authorities and their functions - (1) The Government may, by notification appoint such officer from the 1[Water Resources] Department, or any other Department or Corporation including Irrigation Development Corporation, as they consider necessary, to be the competent authority (Engineering) with specific functions as prescribed, to every farmers’ organization for the purpose of this Act. (2) The Government may also, by notification appoint an officer from the Agriculture Department, to be the competent authority (Agriculture) with the specific functions as prescribed, to every farmers’ organization for the purpose of this Act. (3) For strengthening of the farmers’ organizations the Government may also, by notification appoint an officer or officers from any department or departments, to be the additional competent authority or authorities for discharging specific functions, as may be prescribed.]

The funds of the farmers’ organisation shall comprise of the following, namely:- (i) grants received from the Government as a share of the water tax collected in the area of operation of the farmers’ organisation; (ii) such other funds as may be granted by the State and Central Government for the development of the area of operation; (iii) [XXXX]; (iv) income from the properties and assets attached to the irrigation system within its area of operation; (v) fees collected by the farmers’ organisation for the services rendered in better management of the irrigation system; and (vi) amounts received from any other source as permitted by the Government.

Whoever without any lawful authority does any of the following acts, namely:- (a) damages, alters, enlarges, or obstructs any irrigation system; (b) interferes with, increases, or diminishes the water supply in, or the flow of water from, through, over or under any irrigation system; (c) being responsible for the maintenance of the irrigation system neglects to take proper precautions for the prevention of wastage of the water thereof or interferes with the authorised distribution of water there from or uses water in an unauthorised manner, or in such manner as to cause damage to the adjacent landholdings; (d) corrupts or fouls, water of any irrigation system so as to render it less fit for the purposes for which it is ordinarily used; (e) obstructs or removes any level marks or water gauge or any other mark or sign fixed by the authority of a public servant; and (f) opens, shuts or obstructs and attempts to open, shut or obstruct any sluice or outlet or any other similar contrivance in any irrigation system; (g) violates the Warabandi or the water distribution and regulation schedule made by the Water Users Association or the Distributory Committee or the Project Committee; shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both.

Nothing in this Act shall prevent any person from being prosecuted and punished under any other law for the time being in force for any act or omission made punishable by or under this Act, and such prosecution shall not be initiated except on a complaint made an officer not below the rank of Executive Engineer having jurisdiction over the area: Provided that no person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.

(1) A designated officer not below the rank of Deputy Executive Engineer may accept from any person who committed or in respect of whom a reasonable belief can be inferred that he has committed an offence punishable under this Act or the rules made thereunder, a sum of money not exceeding rupees ten thousand by way of composition for such offence. (2) On payment of such sum of money, the said person, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in regard to the offence, so compounded.

Any dispute or difference touching the constitution, management, powers or functions of a farmers’ organization arising between members, between a member and the managing committee of a water users association or between two or more water users associations or between two or more distributory committees or between two or more project committees shall be determined and disposed of in the manner prescribed.

Any party to a dispute or difference aggrieved by a decision made or order passed by the managing committee of farmers’ organization or by a designated officer, as the case may be, may appeal to the authority and such appeals shall be disposed of, in the manner prescribed.

(1) Every farmers’ organisation shall keep at its office the following accounts, records and documents, namely:- (a) an up-to date copy of this Act; (b) a map of the area of operation of the farmers’ organisation along with map of the structures and distributory networks prepared in consultation with the Water Resources department; (c) a statement of the assets and liabilities; (d) minutes book; (h) books of account of all purchases and sales of goods by the farmers’ organisation; (i) register of measurement books, level field books, work orders and the like; (j) copies of audit reports and enquiry reports; (k) all such other accounts, records and documents as may be prescribed from time to time. (2) The books of accounts and other records shall be open for information to the members of the Farmers’ Organisation and also for inspection to any officer or officers authorized by the Government or the Commissioner, as may be prescribed. (3) To encourage effective functioning of the farmers’ organizations, the Government may prescribe incentives and disincentives for farmers’ organizations, based on their performance.

Every farmers’ organisation shall get its accounts audited in the manner prescribed.

All the amounts payable or due to a farmers’ organisation shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

The meetings of the farmers’ organisation and the managing committees thereof, at such intervals, the procedure, the presidency and the Quorum thereof and the cessation of membership thereof shall be, as may be prescribed.

A member or President or Vice-President or Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the managing committee of a farmers’ organization may resign his office through a letter sent by registered post or tendered in person to the authority designated and it shall be processed and disposed of in the manner prescribed.

(1) The Government may by notification appoint a Commissioner to exercise general control and superintendence over the competent authorities and the District Collectors in performance of their functions under this Act or the rules made thereunder. (2) The powers to be exercised and the functions to be performed by the Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed.

The Government may, by notification, appoint an Officer or Officers or the outgoing President or Chairman of the Farmers’ Organisations whose performance is adjudged as good, as prescribed, or a Managing Committee consisting of President, Vice President and four (4) members as appointed by the General Body of Farmers’ Organisations by consensus, to exercise the powers and perform the functions of a Farmers’ Organisation and the Managing Committtee thereof till such time such Farmers’ Organisation is duly constituted or re-constituted and such Managing Committee assumes office under the provisions of this Act.

All permissions, orders, decisions, notices and other documents of the farmers’ organisation shall be authenticated by the signature of the chairman or president of the farmers’ organisation or any other member of the managing committee, authorised by the managing committee in this behalf.

No acts or proceedings of the managing committee of a farmers’ organisation shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy in, or defect in the constitution of, the said committee.

(1) The farmers’ organisation shall keep their funds in a Nationalised Bank or a Co-operative Bank, namely a Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society or the District Co-operative Central Bank or the Andhra Pradesh State Co-operative Central Bank. (2) The funds shall be applied towards meeting of the expenses incurred by the managing committee of the concerned farmers’ organisation in the administration of this Act and for no other purpose.

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The financial sub-committee of a farmers’ organisation shall prepare in such form in every financial year a budget in respect of the financial year next, showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the committee and shall place before the general body of the farmers’ organisation for its approval as may be prescribed.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall be, instituted against any person for anything which is, in good faith, done or intended to be done under this Act or under the rules made thereunder.

(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act or as to the first constitution or reconstitution of any farmers’ organisation after the commencement of this Act, the Government, as the occasion may require, by order published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, do anything which appears to them necessary for removing the difficulty. (2) All orders made under sub-section (1) shall as soon as may be, after they are made, be placed on the table of the Legislative Assembly of the State and shall be subject to such modifications by way of amendments or repeal as the Legislative Assembly may make either in the same session or in the next session.

(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carryout the purposes of this Act. (2) Every rule made under this Act shall immediately after it is made be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the State, if it is in session and if it is not in session, in the session immediately following for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiration of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly agrees in making any modification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall, from the date on which the modification or annulment is notified, have effect only in such modified form or shall stand annulled as the case may be, so however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.