Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Goa Irrigation Act, 1973

Infrastructure197399 sections

This Act establishes the legal framework for managing water resources in Goa, focusing on irrigation, drainage, and flood protection. It applies to the entire state and regulates the construction and maintenance of structures like bandharas, canals, and embankments. The law governs how water is stored, diverted, and used, ensuring fair distribution among landholders and commercial users. By establishing rules for these water systems, the Act aims to support agricultural productivity, prevent land inundation, and facilitate organized water management for the benefit of the community and the government.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2. Definitions
  3. 3. Appointment of officers
  4. 4. Notification when water supply to be applied for purposes of canals
  5. 5. Powers of Canal-Officer for purpose of so applying water supply
  6. 6. Entry for inquiry
  7. 7. Power to inspect and regulate water supply
  8. 8. Power to enter for repairs and to prevent accidents
  9. 9. Notice to occupier of building etc
  10. 10. Means of crossing canals to be provided and obstructions to drainage to be avoided
  11. 11. Government may prohibit formation of obstructions of rivers etc, within certain limits
  12. 12. Canal-Officer may issue order to person causing obstruction
  13. 13. Canal-Officer may cause obstruction to be removed
  14. 14. Construction of drainage works
  15. 15. Determination of the need for water-course and their alignment in any area
  16. 16. Collector to acquire land
  17. 17. Such acquired land to remain as property of Government
  18. 18. Obligations of user of water-course
  19. 19. Failure to execute work or to repair water-course
  20. 20. Canal-Officer to construct water-courses
  21. 21. Regulation of water supply from canal
  22. 22. Power to stop water supply
  23. 23. Agreement for supply of water transferable with the property in respect of which supply is given
  24. 24. Regulation of cultivation on lands
  25. 25. Power to prescribe the kind of crop to be grown under the irrigation area and the period of sowing such crop
  26. 26. Compensation for damage caused consequent of the exercise of the powers conferred by this Act
  27. 27. Limitation of claims
  28. 28. Compensation for damage caused by entry on land, etc.
  29. 29. Claims to be preferred to the Collector
  30. 30. Appeal
  31. 31. Compensation when due and interest payable
  32. 32. Abatement of revenue demand on interruption of water supply
  33. 33. Determination of rates for supply of canal water
  34. 34. Liability when person using water unauthorisedly cannot be identified
  35. 35. Liability when water runs to waste
  36. 36. Charges recoverable in addition to penalties
  37. 37. Land deriving benefit from percolation liable to water-rate
  38. 38. Levy of water-rate for use of percolation water for non-irrigation purposes
  39. 39. Scheme of irrigable land under command and betterment charges on construction or improvement etc. of a canal
  40. 40. Publication of scheme and notice to owners and persons interested
  41. 41. Inquiry and award
  42. 42. Increase in value and betterment charges
  43. 43. Appeal to the Collector
  44. 44. Revision by Government
  45. 45. Finality of orders of Government, Collector’s decision and award
  46. 46. Betterment charges to be first charge on land next to land revenue
  47. 47. Payment of betterment charges
  48. 48. Relinquishment or exchange of land in lieu of the payment of betterment charges
  49. 49. Levy of irrigation cess
  50. 50. Liability for irrigation cess
  51. 51. Rate and period of irrigation cess
  52. 52. Date for payment of irrigation cess
  53. 53. Payment and recovery of water-rates and other dues
  54. 54. Procedure for obtaining labour for works or repairs urgently required
  55. 55. List of Labourers
  56. 56. Reports to be made by Canal-Officer
  57. 57. Appeals against order under section 54
  58. 58. Power to take over canal for maintenance by Government
  59. 59. Notification of Second-class Canal
  60. 60. Proclamation by the Collector
  61. 61. Framing of Record of Rights
  62. 62. Powers of Canal-Officer
  63. 63. Revision of Record of Rights
  64. 64. Commutation of rights
  65. 65. Power of Government where works are undertaken increasing supply
  66. 66. Publication of Record of Rights
  67. 67. Entries in the Record of Rights to be relevant as evidence
  68. 68. Notice of suit to be given to the Collector
  69. 69. Obligation to carry out petty repairs
  70. 70. Incidence of obligation
  71. 71. Power to enforce rights and obligations
  72. 72. Duty of Inspector to report failure to effect repairs
  73. 73. Public servant and some other persons protected from legal proceedings
  74. 74. Power to make rules
  75. 75. Limitation in respect of canals
  76. 76. Interference with the functioning of cross drainage works
  77. 77. Obligations of owners in respect of works affecting safety of canals
  78. 78. Mining or quarrying near canals
  79. 79. Excavation of wells near canals
  80. 80. Operation of sluice gates, etc.
  81. 81. Fishing and plying of boats, etc.
  82. 82. Letting out of water from canal prohibited
  83. 83. Depositing produce of mines in or near canal prohibited
  84. 84. Offences under the Act
  85. 85. Obstruction to be removed and damage repaired
  86. 85A. Obligation of the Bulk user of water
  87. 86. Abatement
  88. 87. Person employed on canal may take offenders into custody
  89. 88. Punishment under other laws not barred
  90. 89. Offences under this Act to be cognizable
  91. 90. Payment of fine as reward to informant
  92. 91. Appeals against orders under Act
  93. 92. Power to summon and examine witnesses
  94. 93. Service of notice
  95. 94. Bar of certain proceedings etc.
  96. 95. Offences by companies
  97. 96. Saving of certain canals
  98. 97. Power to make rules
  99. 98. Repeal

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