Procedure for levy of betterment charges

(1) At any time after the expiry of one year from the date of the publication of the Notification referred to in section 3 the Government may cause a schedule of betterment charges to be prepared for all lands or class of lands included in an irrigation scheme showing the rates at which the charges shall be leviable on the lands and payable by the landowners and occupancy tenants thereof and the proportions in which the charges shall be so payable. (2) In preparing a schedule under sub-section (1) for the levy of betterment charges in respect of any irrigation scheme regard shall be had to the following, namely— (a) the type of irrigation; (b) the improvement in irrigation; (c) the extent of betterment accruing to the lands. (3) A draft of the schedule prepared under sub-section (1) shall be published in the official Gazette, a copy of which shall be posted at some conspicuous place in the area affected and in such other manner as may be prescribed. (4) Any landowner or occupancy tenant who may be affected by the proposed betterment charges may, within sixty days from the date of the publication of the schedule in the official Gazette, or from the date of its publication in the village, whichever is later, present a petition in writing to the Government stating his objections, if any, to the levy of the betterment charges or the rate thereof. (5) After considering the objections and after making such further inquiry into the matter as the Government may think fit, the Government shall determine the final schedule of betterment charges and cause the same to be published in the official Gazette, and in such other manner as may be prescribed.