Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

1. (a) 'Act' means the Meghalaya Flood Plain Zoning Act, 2026;
2. (b) 'adjudicating authority' means an officer appointed by the State Government for the purpose of adjudication and imposition of penalty under this Act;
3. (c) 'appellate authority' means an authority appointed by the State Government under Section 15 of this Act;
4. (d) 'Authority' means the Flood Zoning Authority constituted by the State Government under Section 3 of the Meghalaya Flood Plain Zoning Act, 2026;
5. (e) 'flood plain' means and includes water channel, flood channel and that area of nearby low land susceptible to flood inundation;
6. (f) 'flood plain zoning' means regulating or restricting any human activity, land use, or development within the flood plains and flood zones of a river or stream;
7. (g) 'flood zone' means the area which is required to carry the flow of the maximum probable floods;
8. (h) 'land' includes interest in lands, benefits arising out of lands and

things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything

attached to the earth;

1. (i) 'occupier' in respect of any land, means any person who has an interest in the land and cultivates the land himself or by his servants or by hired labour and includes a tenant;

1. (j) 'official Gazette' means the Gazette of Meghalaya;
2. (k) 'owner' in relation to any land includes any person having interest in such land;
3. (l) 'prescribed' means prescribed by rules made by the State Government under this Act;
4. (m) 'river' means and includes its tributaries;
5. (n) 'State Government' means the State Government of Meghalaya; and
6. (o) 'water channel' means the channel in which the flow of a river is generally confined.