Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise require: (a) "Administrative Head" means Administrative Head of Irrigation & Flood Control Department which could be Principal secretary or Commissioner & Secretary or a Secretary. (b) "area of operation" in relation to the water User's Association means a continuous block of land in the command area of an Irrigation system as may be notified for the purpose of this Act. (c) "Catchment area" means the area of land draining surface flow water into a stream or a water course at a given location. (d) "Chairman" means Chairman of the Coordination Committee. (e) "Chief Engineer" means the chief Engineer of Irrigation & Flood Control Department. (f) "Coordination Committee" means the coordination committee for two or more Water User's Association in contiguous areas. (g) "command areas" in relation to follow and lift Irrigation on acanal, means the land under irrigable command of a canal bound by hydraulic or other boundaries for which a water User's Association is formed. (h) "Culturable Command Area" means the area, under an Irrigation Project, which can be physically irrigated and is fit for cultivation. (i) "Department" means the Department of Irrigation & Flood Control. (j) "Divisional Office" means the office of the Executive Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department which are located in all the districts of Nagaland and headed by an Executive Engineer. (k) "drainage system" in relation to an irrigation system includes: (i) Channels either natural or artificial for the discharge of waste or surplus water and all works connected therewith or ancillary thereto. (ii) Escape channels from an irrigation system or other works connected herewith or ancillary thereto. (iii) All collecting drains and main to drain off surplus water from field drains, and (iv) All fields drains and related structures under outlets. (l) "Executive Committee" means the executive Committee of water Users' Association/Co-ordination Committee. (m) "Executive Engineer" means the Executive Engineer of Irrigation & Flood Control Department. (n) "field channel" includes a channel existing or to be constructed by the Government or by the land holders or water users or by any agency to receive and distribute water from an outlet. (o) "field drain" includes a channel excavated and maintained by the land holder or by any other agency, to discharge waste or surplus water from the land holding under a pipe outlet; and includes drains, escape channels and other similar works existing or to be constructed. (p) "financial year" means a year commencing from the 1st April of the relevant year to the 31st March of the ensuing year. (q) "Government" means the Government of Nagaland. (r) "irrigation system" means such major, medium and minor irrigation system for harnessing water for irrigation and other allied users from Government or Private source and include reservoirs, diversion system, embankment, lift irrigation, wells, water harvesting structures, micro irrigation systems and the like; Explanation: (i) "Major Irrigation System" means irrigation system under major Irrigation Project having a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of more than 10,000 hectares. (ii) "Medium Irrigation System" means irrigation system under Medium Irrigation Project having a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of more than 2000 and upto 10,000 hectares. (iii) "Minor Irrigation System" means irrigation system under Minor Irrigation Project having a Culturable Command Area (CCA) upto 2000 hectares. (iv) "Micro Irrigation System" means irrigation system through drip irrigation or sprinkler method or both. (r) "maintenance" means execution and continuance of such works on the irrigation system as are necessary to ensure that the physical system designed to the standard operators for proper distribution of water to the land owners in the area of operation. (s) "notification" means a notification published in the official Gazette. (t) "office bearers" means office bearers of water Users' Association. (u) "operational plan" means a schedule of irrigation deliveries with detail of mode and duration supplies drawn up for regulation of irrigation in the command area of an irrigation system. (v) "outlet" means an opening constructed in main canal/branch canal and reservoir or through lift irrigation or micro irrigation system which passes water in the field channel or directly on any land/field. (w) "owner" means owner of the land and includes his agent, attorney or caretaker but does not include the tenant/sub-tenant. (x) "President" means the President of Water Users' Association. (y) "Secretary" means the secretary of water Users' Association/Co-ordination committee. (z) "Treasurer" means the treasurer of water Users' Association. (aa) "Rotational Water Supply (RWS)" means a system of distribution of water location to water users by turn according to an approval schedule indicating day, duration and time of supply. (ab) "Water users" means and includes and individual or body corporate or a society or a farmers association, using water for agriculture, domestic, power, industrial or any other purpose from a Government source of irrigation. (ac) "Water Users' Association" in relation to management of irrigation systems by farmers means all types of water Users' Association at all levels/tires of canal system of flow.