Recovery of cost of repairing damage when the offender is unascertainable.

63. Recovery of cost of repairing damage when the offender is unascertainable. When the person causing any damage, alteration, enlargement or obstruction to any irrigation work without proper authority cannot, after such enquiry as the Deputy Commissioner may deem sufficient, be ascertained or identified, the Deputy Commissioner may, on a requisition from the Irrigation Officer, after giving not less than one month's notice to the holders and occupiers of all lands benefited thereby, and after hearing their representations, if any, recover from them, as an arrear of land revenue, in such proportion as he thinks fit, the cost of repairing such damage, or of removing such alteration, or obstruction.