Maintenance of irrigation works, execution of kudimaramat etc.

Maintenance of irrigation works, execution of kudimaramat etc. (1) (a) Subject to such conditions and control as may be prescribed, the Government may transfer to any gram panchayat the protection and maintenance of any village irrigation work, the regulation of turns of irrigation, or of distribution of water from any such irrigation work to the field depending on it. (b) Subject to such restriction and control as may be prescribed, the fishery rights in minor irrigation tanks and the right to auction weeds and reeds in such tanks and the right to plant trees on the bunds of (1) ... ... such tanks and enjoy the usufruct thereof shall vest in the gram panchayat. (2) The gram panchayat shall have power, subject to such restrictions and control as may be prescribed, to execute kudimaramat in respect of any irrigation source in the village and to levy such fee and on such basis for the purposes thereof as may be prescribed: Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve the village community or any of its members of its or his liability under the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Compulsory Labour Act, 1858 (Central Act 1 of 1858) or any other law similar thereto for the time being in force in respect of any irrigation source in the village, in case the gram panchayat makes default in executing the kudimaramat in respect of that irrigation source.