Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

Irrigation and Drainage Act, Gujarat.Year 2013

Infrastructure201350 sections8 chapters

This law governs the construction, maintenance, and management of irrigation and drainage systems across the entire state of Gujarat. It applies to the state government, government institutions, and grant-in-aid institutions that build or maintain canals, reservoirs, and related water infrastructure. The Act empowers designated canal officers to enter private and public lands to divert water from natural sources like rivers and lakes for canal use, remove obstructions, inspect water usage for billing, and perform necessary repairs. By establishing these rules, the government ensures efficient water distribution, prevents accidents, and regulates the use of water resources for agricultural and public purposes.

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Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent, commencement and application.
  2. 2Definitions.
  3. 3Appointment of Canal-Officers.

Chapter II CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CANAL SYSTEMS →

  1. 4When water-supply to be applied to canal.
  2. 5Power of canal officer for applying water-supply.
  3. 6Entry for inquiry.
  4. 7Power to inspect and regulate water-supply.
  5. 8Power to enter for repairs and to prevent accidents.
  6. 9Notice to occupier of building, etc.
  7. 10Means of crossing canals to be provided and obstruction to drainage to be avoided.
  8. 11State Government may prohibit formation of obstructions of rivers, etc., within certain limits.
  9. 12Canal-officer may direct any person to remove obstruction.
  10. 13Canal-officer may cause obstruction to be removed.
  11. 14When drainage works are necessary, State Government may order scheme to be carried out.

Chapter III CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF FIELD CHANNELS →

  1. 15Construction and maintenance of Field Channels.

Chapter IV SUPPLY OF WATER →

  1. 16Application for supply of water.
  2. 17Power to stop water-supply.
  3. 18Duration of water supply.
  4. 19Agreement for supply of water transferable with property in respect of which water supply given.

Chapter V AWARD OF COMPENSATION →

  1. 20Compensation in cases of ascertainable substantial damage.
  2. 21Limitation of claims.
  3. 22Compensation for damage caused by entry on land, etc.
  4. 23If such tender is not accepted, the canal-officer shall forthwith refer the matter to the Appellate Authority for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of compensation and deciding the same.
  5. 24Decision as to amount of compensation conclusive.
  6. 25Notice as to claim for compensation in certain cases.
  7. 26A copy of sections 20 and 21 shall be annexed to every such notice.
  8. 27All claims for compensation under this Act, other than the claims provided for in sections 22 and 23, shall be made to the Collector of the district in which such claim arises.
  9. 28Diminution in market value to be considered in fixing compensation
  10. 29Where such market-value is not ascertainable, the amount shall be reckoned at twelve times the amount of the diminution of the annual net profits of such property.

Chapter VI WATER RATES →

  1. 30Rates for supply of canal-water.
  2. 31Liability when person using water unauthorisedly cannot be identified.
  3. 32Liability when water runs to waste.
  4. 33Charges recoverable in addition to penalties.
  5. 34All charges for the unauthorised use or for waste of water may be recovered, as water-rates, in addition to any penalty as decided by the Government on account of such use or waste.
  6. 35Levy of water rate for use of percolation water for non-irrigation purposes.
  7. 36Payment and recovery of water rates and other dues.

Chapter VII OFFENCES AND PENALTIES →

  1. 37Penalty for damaging canal, etc.
  2. 38Penalty for endangering stability of canal, etc.
  3. 39Obstruction to be removed and damage repaired.
  4. 40Person employed on canal may take offenders into custody.
  5. 41Saving of prosecutions under other laws.
  6. 42Provided that no person shall be punished twice in respect of one and the same act or omission.

Chapter IX MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 46Protection of action taken in good faith.
  2. 51Grant of licence.
  3. 52Regulation of existing tube wells, etc.
  4. 53Cancellation of licence.
  5. 56Penalty.
  6. 57Power to make rules.
  7. 58Power to remove difficulties.
  8. 59Power of State Government to give directions.

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