Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Act, 2013.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Gujarat.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
4. (4) It shall apply to all the works constructed or maintained relating to irrigation by the State Government, State Government Institutions and Grant-in-Aid Institutions of the State and includes all services rendered thereof.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

1. (1) "Appellate Authority" means Canal-Officer of the rank of the Executive Engineer of the concerned project or part of the project;
2. (2) "canal" includes --
   • (a) all canals, channels, water-courses, pipes and reservoirs constructed, maintained or controlled by the Government for the supply or storage of water;
   • (b) all works, embankments, structures and supply and escape-channels connected with such canals, channels, pipes or reservoirs; and all roads constructed for the purpose of facilitating the construction or maintenance of such canals, channels, pipes or reservoirs;
   • (c) all field channels, drainage-works and flood embankments;
   • (d) river, stream, lake, natural collection of water or natural drainage-channels or any part thereof, to which the State Government may apply the provisions of section 4, or the water of which has been applied or used before the passing of this Act for the purpose of any existing canal;
   • (e) all lands belonging to the Government which

3. For carrying out the purposes of this Act, the State Government may by notification in the Officeial Gazette -

1. (a) appoint such officers not below the rank of Overseer or Additional Assistant Engineer as the canal-officer and assign to them such powers and such duties under this Act, as the State Government may deem fit and also specify the area of jurisdiction;
2. (b) authorise or empower the water users' association to appoint the office bearer of the Association to exercise such powers and perform such duties of the canal-officer, as the State Government may deem fit and also specify the area of jurisdiction.