Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation Act, 1997.
2. (2) It shall extend to the area of the Godavari and Tapi Rivers Valley in Vidarbha region of the State of Maharashtra, specified in the Schedule and such other area or areas, as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
3. (3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 12th March 1997.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

1. (a) "Area of operation of the Corporation" means the area of the Godavari and Tapi Rivers Valley specified in the Schedule and any other area or areas to which the provisions of this Act are extended by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, under sub-section (2) of section 1 ;
2. (b) "Corporation" means the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation established under section 3 ;
3. (c) "Hydro-Electric Power Project" means and includes the planning, construction, maintenance and management of Hydro-Electric Power Projects, within the area of operation of the Corporation and shall also include such hydroelectric power projects as are assigned, handed over or transferred to the Corporation by the State Government ;
4. (d) "Irrigation Department" means the Irrigation Department of the Government ;
5. (e) "Irrigation Project" means the planning, construction, maintenance and management of-
   • (i) Major Irrigation Project having irrigable command area of more than 10,000 hectares,
   • (ii) Medium Irrigation Project having irrigable command area of more than 2,000 hectares and upto 10,000 hectares,
   • (iii) Minor Irrigation Project, having irrigable command area of more than 250 hectares and upto 2,000 hectares, and shall include command area development, flood control and other allied activities ;
6. (f) "member" means a member of the Corporation designated as Director ;
7. (g) "prescribed" means prescribed by the rules made under this Act ;
8. (h) "Schedule" means the Schedule appended to this Act ;
   • (i) "State Government" or "Government" means the Government of Maharashtra.