Requisition of labour by the officer-in-charge of embankment

Whenever it shall appear to the officer-in-charge of embankment, that - (a) there is apprehension of danger or damage to an embankment within his jurisdiction, by flood or inundation and such danger or damage can be prevented; or (b) that a breach has occurred and that such breach can, in his opinion, be repaired and inundation caused by it can be stooped by immediate employment of a large number of persons; then, in either of such cases, it shall be lawful for such officer to require the headman, makaddam or president of the Panchayat of a village or such headman, makaddams or presidents of a number of villages in the neighbourhood of the embankment to call upon all able-bodied persons of such village or villages to co-operate in the work necessary for preventing-the danger or damage or repairing the breach, as the case may be : Provided that when there is grave emergency and the officer-in-charge of embankment is absent, it shall be lawful for such headman, makaddam or president, on his own motion, to call upon such able bodied persons for the purposes hereinbefore specified.