Vidhi Codex

The following Act of the Gujarat Legislature, having been assented

Water Users' Participatory Irrigation Management Act, Gujarat.Year 2007

Infrastructure200763 sections9 chapters

This Act establishes Water Users’ Associations in Gujarat to manage irrigation water more efficiently and equitably. It applies to landholders and the state government, defining how water is distributed from minor canals to fields. By empowering local communities to manage their own water supply, the law aims to improve agricultural productivity, ensure fair access to water, and reduce conflicts over resources. It sets up a system where users can take responsibility for maintenance and distribution, replacing or supplementing top-down government control with local participation.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Definitions
  3. 3Declaration of minor canal service area

Chapter II ESTABLISHMENT OF WATER USERS’ ASSOCIATION →

  1. 4Definition
  2. 5Establishment of Water Users’ Association
  3. 6Incorporation of Water Users’ Association
  4. 7Election of President at first meeting of Association
  5. 8Meetings of Association
  6. 9Officers and employees of Association

Chapter III PARTICIPATOROY IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT AND OTHER FUNCTIONS OF ASSOCIATION →

  1. 10Definitions
  2. 11Competent Authority to provide assured supply of water
  3. 12Authority in consultation with the designated person.
  4. 13Willing Association to enter into an agreement
  5. 14Joint inspection of minor canal
  6. 15Repairs to canal
  7. 16Entrustment of irrigation management to Association
  8. 17Construction of water courses by Association
  9. 18Construction of field channels by Association
  10. 19Functions of Association
  11. 20Power of Competent Authority to inspect and give directions
  12. 21Determination and collection of water charges by Association
  13. 22Other functions of Association

Chapter IV FINANCE, ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND REPORTS OF ASSOCIATION →

  1. 23Fund of Association
  2. 24Sinking Fund
  3. 25Budget
  4. 26Accounts and Audit
  5. 27Annual report

Chapter V CONSTITUTION OF MANAGING COMMITTEE →

  1. 28Definition
  2. 29Constitution of Managing Committee
  3. 30Co-option of members
  4. 31Election of Chairperson
  5. 32Term of office of members
  6. 33Filling of vacancy
  7. 34Disqualifications
  8. 35Removal or resignation of a member
  9. 36Meetings of Committee
  10. 37Officers and employees of Committee
  11. 38Acts and proceedings presumed to be valid

Chapter VI FUNCTIONS OF COMMITTEE →

  1. 39Performance of functions

Chapter VII OFFENCES AND PENALTIES →

  1. 40Penalty for damaging minor canal, etc
  2. 41For endangering stability of minor canal, etc
  3. 42Obstruction to be removed and damage repaired
  4. 43Offences by companies
  5. 44Persons employed on entrusted minor canal may take offenders into custody
  6. 45Saving of prosecution under other laws
  7. 46Payment of fine as award to informant
  8. 47Cognizance of offences
  9. 48Compounding of offences

Chapter VIII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 49Consequences of alteration of limits of service area
  2. 50Power to reduce water rates
  3. 51Settlement of disputes
  4. 52Appeal
  5. 53Revision
  6. 54Recovery of dues
  7. 55Power of State Government to issue directions to Association
  8. 56Power of Association to issue directions
  9. 57Protection of action taken in good faith
  10. 58Power of the State Government to make rules
  11. 59Power of Association to make regulations
  12. 60Power to remove difficulty
  13. 61Savings

Chapter IX PANCHAYAT MINOR CANAL →

  1. 62Definition
  2. 63Application of Act to panchayat minor canal

PDF: pending for this language.