Settlement of disputes regarding distribution of water.

(1) Whenever a dispute arises between two or more land-holders in regard to their natural rights or liabilities in respect of the use or maintenance of a field channel, any such land-holder may apply in writing to the pipe committee stating the matter in dispute. (2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the pipe committee shall give notice to the other persons intersted to appear before it on a day to be specified in such notice, and shall proceed to enquire into such matter, and after the enquiry, the pipe committee may try to bring about a compromise between the parties and if such compromise could not be brought, it shall, after hearing the parties concerned pass such order as it deems fit: Provided that if any dispute arises between the land-holders and the pipe committee regarding the sharing of costs to be borne by one or more land-holders, any such land holder may, after paying the costs apportioned to him by the pipe committee, prefer an appeal to the Irrigation Officer within seven days of such payment and the Irrigation Officer shall after giving an opportunity to the aggrieved land-holders, decide the pro-rata sharing of expenses between the land-holders and his decision theron shall be final and binding on all the land-holders. (3) The Irrigation Officer within whose jurisdiction the pipe outlet is situated, may suo-motu or on an application made in this behalf by an aggrieved person within fifteen days from the date of the order passed by the pipe committee under sub-section (2) revise such order: Provided that where the pipe committee does not pass an order within fifteen days from the date of receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Irrigation Officer may himself pass an order on the matter in dispute.