Recovery of cost of repairing damage when the offender is unascertainable

When the person causing any damage, alterations, enlargement or obstruction to any irrigation work without proper authority cannot, after such enquiry as the Canal Officer may deem sufficient, be ascertained or identified, the Canal Officer may, on a requisition from the Zilladar after giving not less than one month's notice to the owners, occupiers and beneficiaries of all lands benefited thereby, and after hearing their representations, if any, recover from them, in such proportion as he thinks fit, the cost of repairing such damage, or of removing such alteration, or obstruction.