Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) "acreage rates" means the charges levied under section 6 on lands included in an irrigation scheme; (b) "betterment charges" means the charges levied under section 4 on lands included in an irrigation scheme; (c) "canal" includes— (i) all parts of river, stream, lake or any collection of water or natural drainage channel to which the provisions of Part II of the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 (VIII of 1873), may apply; (ii) all canals, channels, reservoirs, wells, tube-wells and lift irrigation arrangements constructed, maintained or controlled by the Government; (iii) all watercourses, that is to say, all channels which are supplied with water from a canal but which are not maintained at the cost of the Government, and all subsidiary works belonging to any such canal; (d) "investment" means the total expenditure incurred on the scheme or of any extension thereof or of any enlargement of capacity as a result thereof, with the interest thereon, the cost of maintenance and operation during the period in which the said liability has to be discharged; (e) "Government" means the Central Government; (f) "irrigation scheme" means any such scheme as is referred to in section 3; (g) "landowner" has the meaning assigned to it in the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887 (XVII of 1887), and includes Government; (h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (i) the expressions "land", "tenant" and "occupancy tenant" have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887 (XVI of 1887); (j) the expressions "Canal Officer" and "Divisional Canal Officer" have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 (VIII of 1873); (jj) "matured area" means the area included in the irrigation scheme for which water is supplied and is subject to payment of water rates under section 36 of the Northern Indian Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 (Act No. VIII of 1873) during any harvest.