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THE RAJASTHAN FARMERS' PARTICIPATION IN
MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
ACT, 2000
(Act No. 21 of 2000)

[ Received t he assent of t he Governor on t he 18t h day of November, 2000]

An Act
To provide f or f armers part icipat ion in t he Management of Irrigat ion Syst em and f or mat t ers connect ed t herewit h
or incident al t heret o.
Be it enact ed by t he Raj ast han St at e Legislat ure in t he Fi f t y-f irst Year of t he Republic of India, as f ollows: CHAPTER-1
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement - (1) This Act may be called t he Raj ast han Farmers' Part icipat ion in
Management of Irrigat ion Syst em Act , 2000.

(2)

It

ext ends

to

t he

whole

of

t he

St at e

of

Raj ast han.

(3) It shall be deemed t o have come int o f orce on and f rom 20t h day of July 2000.
2. Definitions - (1) In t his Act , unless t he cont ext ot herwise requires: (a) 'area of operation' in relat ion t o Farmers Organizat ion means a cont iguous block of land in t he command area
of an irrigat ion syst em as may be delineat ed by t he Proj ect Aut horit y under sect ion 23 and as may be delineat ed
and declared by t he Government under sect ion 8, f or t he purpose of t his Act ;

(b) 'command area' means an area irrigat ed or capable of being irrigat ed eit her by gravit at ional f low or by lif t
irrigat ion or by any ot her met hod f rom a Government source and includes every such area whet her it is called
'Command Area' or by any ot her name under any law f or t he t ime being in f orce;
(c) 'Competent Authority' means t he Aut horit y appoint ed under sect ion 22;
(d) 'distributary system' means and includes, -

(i) all main canals, branch canals, dist ribut aries and minor canals const ruct ed f or t he supply and dist ribut ion of
wat er
f or
irrigat ion;
(ii) all works, st ruct ures and appliances connect ed wit h t he dist ribut ion of wat er f or irrigat ion; and
(iii) all wat er courses and ot her relat ed channels and st ruct ures under an out let ;
(e) 'drainage system' in relat ion t o an irrigat ion syst em includes, (i) channels eit her nat ural or art if i cial, f or t he discharge of wast e or surplus wat er and all works connect ed
t herewit h or ancillary t heret o;
(ii) escape channels f rom an irrigat ion or dist ribut ion syst em and ot her works connect ed t herewit h, but does not
include works f or removal of sewage;
(iii) all collect ing drains and main drains t o drain of f surplus wat er f rom f ield drains; and
(iv) all f ield drains and relat ed st ruct ures under out let s;
(f ) 'Farmers Organization' wherever it occurs, shall mean and include, -

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(i) Wat er Users' Associat ion at t he primary level consist ing of all t he wat er users, as const it ut ed under sect ion 4;
(ii) Dist ribut ary Commit t ee at
t he secondary level,
as const it ut ed under sect ion 6;
and
(iii) Proj ect Commit t ee at t he proj ect level, as const it ut ed under sect ion 8;
(g) 'field drain' includes a channel excavat ed and maint ained by t he land owner or by any ot her agency, t o
discharge wast e or surplus wat er f rom t he land under an out let ; and includes drains, escape channels and ot her
similar works exist ing or t o be const ruct ed;
(h) 'financing agency' means any Commercial Bank, or any Co-operat ive Societ y or any ot her Bank or
Organisat ion est ablished or incorporat ed under any law, f or t he t ime being in f orce, which lends money f or t he
development of t he area of operat ion of t he Farmers' Organisat ion;
(i) 'financial year' means a year commencing f rom t he 1st April of t he relevant year t o t he 31st March of t he
ensuing year;
(j ) 'Government' means t he Government of t he St at e of Raj ast han;
(k) 'hydraulic basis' means t he basis f or ident if ying a viable irrigat ed area served by one or more hydraulic
st ruct ures such as head works, dist ribut aries, minors, out let s and t he like;
(l) 'irrigation system' means such maj or, medium and minor irrigat ion syst em f or harnessing wat er f or irrigat ion
and ot her allied uses f rom t he Government source and includes reservoirs, open head channel, diversion syst ems,
anicut s, lif t irrigat ion schemes, t anks, wells and t he like;
Explanation

(1) 'Maj or Irrigation System' means irrigat ion syst em under Maj or Irrigat ion Proj ect having irrigable command
area of more t han 10, 000 hect ares;
(2) 'Medium Irrigation System' means irrigat ion syst em under Medium Irrigat ion Proj ect having irrigable
command area of more t han 2, 000 hect ares and up t o 10, 000 hect ares;
(3) 'Minor Irrigation System' means irrigat ion syst em under minor irrigat ion proj ect having irrigable command
area up t o 2, 000 hect ares;
(m) 'Land Owner' means a person recorded as t enant / sub-t enant of land in t he record of right s prescribed,
prepared and maint ained under t he Raj ast han Land Revenue Act , 1956 (Act No. 15 of 1956) and rules made t here
under;
(n) 'maintenance' means execut ion and cont inuance of such works on t he irrigat ion syst em as are necessary t o
ensure t hat t he physical syst em designed t o t he st andards operat es f or proper dist ribut ion of wat er t o t he land
owners in t he area of operat ion;
(o) 'notification' means a not if icat ion published in t he Of f icial Gazet t e, and t he expression 'not if ied' shall be
const ruct ed accordingly;
(p) 'operational plan' means a schedule of irrigat ion deliveries wit h det ails of t he mode and durat ion of supplies
drawn up f or regulat ion of irrigat ion in t he command area of an irrigat ion syst em;
(q) 'osrabandi' means and includes a syst em of dist ribut ion of wat er allocat ion t o one or more group of wat er
users in proport ion of command area of such group / groups indicat ing durat ion of such wat er allocat ion in a
cycle of irrigat ion;
(r) 'outlet' means an opening const ruct ed in main canal / branch canal/ dist ribut ary / minor and reservoir or
t hrough lif t irrigat ion management which passes wat er int o a wat er course or direct ly on any land;
(s) 'prescribed' means prescribed by t he Government by rules made under t his Act ;

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(t ) 'Proj ect Authority' means t he aut horit y appoint ed under sect ion 23;
(u) 'warabandi' means and includes a syst em of dist ribut ion of wat er allocat ion t o wat er users by t urn, according
t o an approved schedule indicat ing t he day, durat ion and t he t ime of supply;
(v) 'water allocation' in relat ion t o an irrigat ion syst em means di st ribut ion of wat er det ermined f rom t ime t o
t ime by a f armers' Organisat ion in it s area of operat ion;
(w) 'water course' means any channel exist ing or t o be const ruct ed by t he Government or by t he land owners or
by any agency t o receive and dist ribut e wat er f rom an out let ; and
(x) 'water user' means and includes any individual or body corporat e or a societ y, using wat er f or agricult ure,
domest ic, power, non-domest ic, commercial, indust rial or any ot her purpose f rom a Government source of
Irrigat ion.

(2). The words and expressions used in t his Act , but not def ined, shall have t he meaning assigned t o t hem in t he
Raj ast han Irrigat ion and Drainage Act , 1954 (Act No. 21 of 1954).

CHAPTER-II
FARMERS' ORGANISATION
3. Delineation of water users' area and territorial constituencies -

(1) The Proj ect Aut horit y may, by not if icat ion delineat e every command area under each of t he irrigat ion
syst ems on a hydraulic basis which may be administ rat ively viable; and declare it t o be a wat er users area f or t he
purpose of t his Act :
Provided t hat in respect of t he command area under t he minor and lif t irrigat ion syst ems, t he ent ire command
area may, as f ar as possible, f orm a single wat er users' area:
Provided f urt her t hat Proj ect Aut horit y shall not delineat e any area under t his sect ion unless he is sat isf ied t hat
t he Irrigat ion Syst em in t hat area is in sat isf act ory working condit ion.
(2) Every wat er users' area shall be divided int o t errit orial const it uencies which shall not be less t han f our but not
more t han t en, as may be prescribed.
4. Constitution of Water Users' Association - (1) There shall be a Wat er Users' Associat ion called by it s local
dist inct name f or every wat er users' area delineat ed under sub-sect ion (1) of sect ion 3.
(2) Every Wat er Users' Associat ion shall consist of all t he wat er users who are land owners in such wat er users'
area as members.
(3) All members specif ied in clause (2) shall const it ut e t he General body of t he Wat er Users' Associat ion and shall
have right t o vot e.
5. Managing Committee of Water Users' Association and Election of its President and Members (1) There shall be a Managing Commit t ee f or every Wat er Users' Associat ion.
(2) The Proj ect Aut horit y shall make arrangement s f or t he elect ion of President of t he Managing Commit t ee of
t he Wat er Users' Associat ion by direct elect ion f rom among it s members by t he met hod of secret ballot in t he
manner as may be prescribed.

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(3) The Proj ect Aut horit y shall also cause arrangement s f or t he elect ion of a Managing Commit t ee consist ing of
one Member f rom each of t he t errit orial const it uencies of a wat er users' area, by t he met hod of secret ballot in
t he manner as may be prescribed.
Provided t hat where a land owner holds land in more t han one t errit orial const it uencies of t he wat er users' area,
he shall be eligible t o t ake part in elect ion f or member ship of t he Managing Commit t ee only f rom one t errit orial
const it uency f or which he opt s in t he manner as may be prescribed.
(4) If , at an elect ion held under sub-sect ion (2) or (3), t he President or t he Members of t he Managing Commit t ee
are not elect ed, f resh elect ions shall be held:
Provided t hat t he Proj ect Aut horit y may, f or t he reasons t o be recorded in writ ing f rom t ime t o t ime, post pone
elect ions.
(5) The President and t he Members of t he Managing Commit t ee shall, if not recalled earlier under sect ion 10, be
in of f ice f or a period of f ive years, f rom t he dat e of t he f irst meet ing.
(6) The Managing Commit t ee shall exercise t he powers and perf orm t he f unct ions of t he wat er users associat ion.
6. Delineation of Distributary area and constitution of the Distributary Committee (1) The Proj ect Aut horit y may, by not if icat ion deli neat e every Command Area of t he irrigat ion syst em,
comprising of t wo or more Wat er Users' Areas and declare it t o be dist ribut ary area f or t he purpose of t his Act .
(2) There shall be a Dist ribut ary Commit t ee called by it s local dist inct name f or every dist ribut ary area declared
as such under sub-sect ion (1).
(3) All t he President s of t he Wat er Users' Associat ions in t he dist ribut ary area, so long as t hey hold such of f ice by
virt ue of sub-sect ion (5) of sect ion 5, shall const it ut e t he General Body of t he Dist ribut ary Commit t ee including
t wo of f icials nominat ed by t he Proj ect Aut horit y.
7. Managing committee of Distributary Committee and election of its President and Members (1) There shall be a Managing Commit t ee f or every Dist ribut ary commit t ee and t he said commit t ee shall consist
of such number of members, not exceeding f ive including President , as may be specif ied by t he St at e
Government .
(2) The Proj ect Aut horit y shall cause arrangement s, in t he prescribed manner, f or t he elect ion by t he met hod of
secret ballot of t he President and Members of t he Managing Commit t ee f rom among t he Members of t he General
Body of t he Dist ribut ary Commit t ee:
Provided t hat t he Government may, f or t he reasons t o be recorded in writ ing, f rom t ime t o t ime post pone
elect ions.
(3) If , at an elect ion held under sub-sect ion (2), t he President and t he Members of t he Managing Commit t ee are
not elect ed, f resh elect ions shall be held.
(4) The t erm of of f ice of t he President and t he Members of t he Managing commit t ee shall, if not recalled earlier
under sect ion 10, be co-t erminous wit h t he t erm of general body specif ied in sub-sect ion (3) of sect ion 6.
(5) The Managing Commit t ee shall exercise t he powers and perf orm t he f unct ions of t he Dist ribut ary Commit t ee.
8. Delineation of Proj ect Area and constitution of Proj ect Committee - ( 1) The Government may, by
not if icat ion, delineat e every command area or part t hereof , of an irrigat ion syst em and declare it t o be a proj ect
area f or t he purposes of t his Act .
(2) There shall be a Proj ect Commit t ee called by it s dist inct local name f or every proj ect area declared under
sub-sect ion (1).
(3) All t he President s of t he Disbribut ary Commit t ees in t he proj ect area, so long as t hey hold such of f ice by
virt ue of sub-sect ion (4) of sect ion 7, shall const it ut e t he General Body of t he Proj ect commit t ee.
9. Managing Committee of the Proj ect Committee and Election of its Chairperson and Members (1) There shall be a Managing Commit t ee f or every Proj ect Commit t ee consist ing of nine Members including
Chairperson.

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(2) The Proj ect Aut horit y shall cause arrangement s, in t he prescribed manner f or elect ion by t he met hod of
secret ballot , of Chairperson and eight Members of Managing Commit t ee f rom among t he members of t he General
Body of t he Proj ect Commit t ee:
Provided t hat t he Government may, f or t he reasons t o be recorded in writ ing, f rom t ime t o t ime, post pone
elect ions.
(3) If , at an elect ion held under sub-sect ion (2), t he Chairperson and t he Members of t he Managing Commit t ee
are not elect ed, f resh elect ions shall be held in t he prescribed manner.
(4) The t erm of of f ice of t he Chairperson and t he Members of t he Managing Commit t ee shall, if not recalled
earlier under sect ion 10, be co-t erminous wit h t he t erm of general body specif ied in sub-sect ion (3) of sect ion 8.
(5) The Managing Commit t ee shall exercise t he powers and perf orm t he f unct ions of t he Proj ect Commit t ee.
10. Procedure for recall - (1) A mot ion f or recall of a Chairperson or a President or a Member, as t he case may
be, of a Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion may be made by giving a writ t en not ice in such f orm, as
may be prescribed, signed by not less t han one-t hird of t he t ot al number of members of t he Farmers'
Organisat ion, who are ent it led t o vot e:
Provided t hat no not ice of mot ion under t his sect ion shall be made wit hin one year f rom t he dat e of assumpt ion
of of f ice by t he person against whom t he mot ion is sought t o be moved.
(2) If t he mot ion ref erred t o in sub-sect ion (1) is carried wit h t he support of maj orit y of t he Members present and
vot ing at a meet ing of t he General Body specially convened f or t he purposes, t he Proj ect Aut horit y, shall by
order remove t he person, against whom mot ion is carried, f rom of f ice and t he result ing vacancy shall be f illed in
t he manner a casual vacancy is f illed.
11. Constitution of sub-committees of Farmers' Organisation - The Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers'
Organisat ion may const it ut e sub-commit t ee t o carry out all or any of t he f unct ions vest ed in each Organisat ion
under t his Act .
12. Farmers' Organisation to be a body Corporate - Every Farmers' Organisat ion shall be body corporat e wit h a
dist inct name having perpet ual succession and a common seal and, subj ect t o t he provisions of t his Act , vest ed
wit h t he capacit y of ent ering int o cont ract s and of doing all t hings necessary, proper or expedient f or t he
purposes f or which it is const it ut ed and it shall sue or be sued in it s corporat e name represent ed by t he
Chairperson or t he President , as t he case may be:
Provided t hat no Farmers' Organisat ion shall have t he power t o alienat e in any manner, any propert y vest ed in it .
13. Changes in Farmers' Organisation - The Government may, in t he int erest of a Farmers' Organisat ion in t he
command area, by not if icat ion and in accordance wit h t he rules made in t his behalf ,
(a) f orm a new Farmers' Organisat ion by separat ing t he area f rom any Farmers' Organisat ion;
(b) increase t he area of any Farmers' Organisat ion;
(c) diminish t he area o f any Farmers' Organisat ion;
(d) alt er t he boundaries of any Farmers' Organisat ion; or
(e) cancel a not if icat ion issued under t his Act f or rect if ying any mist ake:

Provided t hat no such separat ion, increase, diminut ion, alt erat ion and cancellat ion shall be ef f ect ed unless a
reasonable opport unit y of hearing is given t o t he Organisat ion likely t o be af f ect ed.
14. Disqualifications - (1) A person, who is employee of t he Government of India or any St at e Government of a
Local Aut horit y or any inst it ut ion receiving aid f rom t he f unds of t he Government , shall be disqualif ied f or
elect ion or f or cont inuing as a Chairperson or a President or a Member of a Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers'
Organisat ion
(2) No person who has been convict ed by a criminal court f or any of f ense involving moral t urpit ude commit t ed
under any law f or t he t ime being in f orce shall be qualif ied f or elect ion or cont inuing in t he of f ice of a
Chairperson or a President or a Member of a Managing commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion.

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(3) A person shall be disqualif ied f or being chosen as a Chairperson or a President or a Member of t he Managing
Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion if on t he dat e f ixed f or scrut iny of nominat ions f or elect ion, or on t he dat e
of nominat ions, he is (a) of unsound mind and st ands so declared by a compet ent court ;
(b) an applicant t o be adj udicat ed as an insolvent or an undercharged insolvent ;
(c) a def ault er of land revenue or wat er t ax or charges payable eit her t o t he Government or t o t he Farmers'
Organisat ion;
(d) int erest ed in a subsist ing cont ract made wit h, or any work being done f or, t he Panchayat or Panchayat Samit i
or Zila Parishad or any St at e or Cent ral Government or t he Farmers' Organisat ion:
Provided t hat a person shall not be deemed t o have any int erest in such cont ract or work by reason only of his
having share or int erest in, -

(i)
a
company
as
a
mere
share-holder
but
not
as
a
direct or;
(ii) any lease, sale or purchase of immovable propert y or any agreement f or t he same;
(iii) any agreement f or t he loan of money or any securit y f or t he payment of money only;
(iv) any newspaper in which an advert isement relat ing t o t he af f airs of t he Farmers' Organisat ion is insert ed.

or
or
or

Explanation: - For t he removal of doubt s it is hereby declared t hat where a cont ract is f ully perf ormed it shall
not be deemed t o be subsist ing merely on t he ground t hat t he Panchayat , Panchayat Samit i, Zila Parishad, t he
Farmers' Organisat ion, t he St at e or Cent ral Government has not perf ormed it s part of t he cont ract ual obligat ions.

(4) A Chairperson or a President or a Member of Managing Commit t ee shall on be disqualif ied f or elect ion t o or
cont inuing in of f ice of Chairperson or President or Member of Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion if
he absent s f rom t hree consecut ive meet ings of t he Managing Commit t ee wit hout reasonable cause:
Provided t hat t he disqualif icat ion under t his sub-sect ion shall not apply in or t he case of women, who during t he
advanced st age of pregnancy or during a period of t hr ee mont hs af t er delivery, is unable t o at t end t he meet ings.
(5) A person having more t han t wo children shall be disqualif ied f or elect ion as a Chairperson or a President or a
Member of t he Managing Commit t ee:
Provided t hat a person having more t han t wo children shall not be disqualif ied under t his sect ion f or so long as
t he number of children he had on t he dat e of such commencement does not increase:
Provided f urt her t hat t he birt h of an addit ional child wit hin one year f rom t he dat e of commencement of t his Act
shall not be t aken int o considerat ion f or t he purposes of t his sect ion.
Explanation - For t he purpose of sub-sect ion (5), where any couple has only one child f rom t he earlier delivery or
deliveries on t he dat e of commencement of t his Act and t hereaf t er, any number of children born out of a single
delivery shall be deemed t o be one ent it y.
(6) A person shall become disqualif ied t o cont inue as Member of Wat er Users' Associat ion or hold t he of f ice of
Chairperson or President or Member of a Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion, if he ceases t o be a
land owner in t he area of operat ion of concerned Farmers' Organizat ion.

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15. Filling up of Vacancies -

(1) A vacancy arising eit her due t o disqualif icat ion under sect ion 14 or due t o deat h or resignat ion or by any
reason, such vacancy shall be f illed up by nominat ion in t he f ollowing manner
(a) a vacancy in t he Wat er Users' Associat ion shall be f illed, by nominat ion by t he Managing Commit t ee of t he
Dist ribut ary Commit t ee in t he prescribed manner;
(b) a vacancy in t he Dist ribut ary Commit t ee shall be f illed, by nominat ion by t he Managing Commit t ee of t he
Proj ect Commit t ee in t he prescribed manner; and
(c) a vacancy in t he Proj ect Commit t ee shall be f illed by nominat ion eit her by t he Apex Commit t ee const it ut ed
under sect ion 34 or by t he Government , as t he case may be, in t he prescribed manner.
(2) The t erm of of f ice of a member or a President or a Chairperson of t he Farmers' Organisat ion, nominat ed
under sub-sect ion (1), shall expire at t he t ime at which it would have expired, had he been elect ed at t he
ordinary elect ion.

CHAPTER-III
OBJECTS, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE FARMERS' ORGANISATION
16. Obj ects - The obj ect s of t he Farmers' Organisat ion shall be t o promot e and secure dist ribut ion of wat er
among it s users, adequat e maint enance of t he irrigat ion syst em, ef f icient and economical ut ilizat ion of wat er t o
opt imize agricult ural product ion, t o prot ect t he environment , and t o ensure ecological balance by involving t he
f armers, including a sense of ownership of t he irrigat ion syst em in accordance wit h t he wat er budget and t he
operat ional plan.
17. Functions of the Water Users' Association - The Wat er Users' Associat ion shall perf orm t he f ollowing
f unct ions, namely: (a) t o prepare and implement a warabandi schedule f or each irrigat ion season, consist ent wit h t he operat ional
plan, based upon t he ent it lement , area, soil and cropping pat t ern;
(b) t o prepare a plan f or t he maint enance, ext ension, improvement s, renovat ion and modernizat ion of irrigat ion
syst em in t he area of it s operat ion and carry out such works of bot h dist ribut ary syst em and f ield drains in it s
area of operat ion wit h t he f unds of t he associat ion f rom t ime t o t ime;
(c) t o regulat e t he use of wat er among t he various out let s under it s area of operat ion according t o t he warabandi
schedule of t he syst em;
(d) t o promot e economy in t he use of wat er allocat ed;
(e) t o prepare demand and collect wat er charges;
(f ) t o maint ain a regist er of land owners as published by t he revenue depart ment ;
(g) t o prepare and maint ain an invent ory of t he irrigat ion syst em wit hin t he area of operat ion;
(h) t o monit or f low of wat er f or irrigat ion;
(i) t o resolve t he disput es, if any, bet ween it s Members and wat er users in it s area of operat ion;
(j ) t o raise resources;
(k) t o maint ain account s;
(1) t o cause annual audit of it s account s;
(m) t o assist in t he conduct of elect ions t o t he Managing Commit t ee;
(n) t o maint ain such ot her records, as may be prescribed;
(o) t o abide by t he decisions of t he Dist ribut ary and Proj ect Commit t ee;
(p) t o conduct General Body meet ing in t he manner, as may be prescribed;
(q) t o encourage avenue plant at ion on canal bunds and t ank bunds by leasing such bunds, and

(r) t o conduct regular wat er budget ing and also t o conduct periodical social audit in t he manner, as may be
prescribed.

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18. Functions of the Distributary Committee - The Dist ribut ary Commit t ee shall perf orm t he f ollowing
f unct ions, namely
(a) t o prepare an operat ional plan based on it s ent it lement area, soil, cropping pat t ern at t he beginning of each
irrigat ion season, consist ent wit h t he operat ional plan prepared by t he Proj ect Commit t ee;
(b) t o prepare a plan f or t he ext ension, improvement s, renovat ion, modernizat ion and annual maint enance of
bot h dist ribut aries and medium drains wit hin it s area of operat ion;
(c) t o regulat e t he use of wat er among t he various Wat er Users' Associat ions under it s area of operat ion;
(d) t o resolve disput es, if any, bet ween t he Wat er Users' Associat ions in it s area of operat ion;
(e) t o maint ain a regist er of Wat er Users' Associat ions in it s area of operat ion;
(f ) t o maint ain an invent ory of t he irrigat ion syst em in t he area of it s operat ion, including drains;
(g) t o promot e economy in t he use of wat er allocat ed;
(h) t o maint ain account s;
(i) t o cause annual audit ;
(j ) t o maint ain such ot her records, as may be prescribed;
(k) t o monit or t he f low of wat er f or irrigat ion;
(1) t o conduct General Body Meet ings in t he manner, as may be prescribed;
(m) t o abide by t he decisions of t he Proj ect Commit t ee;
(n) t o cause regular wat er budget ing and also t he periodical social audit in t he manner, as may be prescribed;
(o) t o assist in t he conduct of elect ions t o t he Managing Commit t ee; and
(p) t o encourage avenue plant at ions in it s area of operat ion.
19. Functions of the Proj ect Committee - The Proj ect Commit t ee shall perf orm t he f ollowing f unct ions, namely
:(a) t o approve an operat ional plan based on it s ent it lement , area, soil, cropping pat t ern as prepared by t he
Compet ent Aut horit y in respect of t he ent ire proj ect area at t he beginning of each irrigat ion season;
(b) t o approve a plan f or t he ext ension, improvement s, renovat ion, modernizat ion and annual maint enance of
irrigat ion syst em including t he maj or drains wit hin it s area of operat ion at t he end of each crop season;
(c) t o maint ain a list of t he Dist ribut ory Commit t ees and Wat er Users' Associat ions in it s area of operat ion;
(d) t o maint ain an invent ory of t he dist ribut ary and drainage syst ems in it s area of operat ion;
(e) t o resolve disput es, if any, bet ween t he Dist ribut ory Commit t ees;
(f ) t o promot e economy in t he use of wat er;
(g) t o maint ain account s;
(h) t o cause annual audit of it s account s;
(i) t o maint ain such ot her records as may be prescribed;
(j ) t o conduct general body meet ings in t he manner, as may be prescribed;
(k) t o cause regular wat er budget ing and also t he periodical social audit in t he manner, as may be prescribed;
and
(1) t o encourage avenue plant at ions in it s area of operat ions.
20. Power to levy and collect fee - A Farmers' Organisat ion may, f or carrying out t he purposes of t his Act ,
achieving t he obj ect s of t he Organisat ion and perf orming it s f unct ions, levy and collect such f ees as may be
prescribed f rom t ime t o t ime.
21. Power to remove encroachments - A Farmers Organisat ion shall remove encroachment s f rom propert y
at t ached t o t he irrigat ion syst em wit hin it s area of operat ion in accordance wit h t he procedure as may be
prescribed.
22. Appointment of competent authority and his functions - (1) t he Government may by not if icat ion appoint
such of f icer of t he Irrigat ion Depart ment or t he Command Area Development Depart ment or any ot her
Depart ment of t he St at e, as may be considered necessary, t o be t he compet ent aut horit y f or every Farmers'
Organisat ion f or t he purpose of t his Act .
(2) The compet ent aut horit y appoint ed under sub-sect ion (1) shall be responsible t o t he respect ive Farmers'
Organisat ion in t he implement at ion and execut ion of all decisions t aken by t he f armers' Organisat ion in t he
manner as may be prescribed and shall provide t echnical advice and ensure t hat t he work is execut ed in
accordance wit h t he t echnical paramet ers.
23. Appointment of Proj ect Authority and his functions - (1) The Government may, by not if icat ion, appoint
such of f icer, as may be considered necessary, t o be t he Proj ect Aut horit y f or t he proj ect area f or t he purposes of

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t his Act .
(2) The proj ect aut horit y appoint ed under sub-sect ion (1) shall perf orm f ollowing f unct ions wit hin his area of
operat ion
(a) delineat ion of Wat er Users' Area and it s t errit orial const it uencies; and delineat ion of dist ribut ary area;
(b) cause arrangement s f or t he elect ion of Chairperson, President , Member of Managing Commit t ee of Farmers'
Organisat ion;
(c) recall a Chairperson or a President or a Member of Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion against
whom t he mot ion is carried out and will cause arrangement s f or f illing-up such vacancy wit hin one mont h; and
(d) will supervise t he f unct ioning of all t he compet ent aut horit ies.

CHAPTER - IV
RESOURCES
24. Resources of Farmers' Organisation - The f unds of t he Farmers' Organisat ion shall comprise of t he f ollowing,
namely: (i) grant s received f rom t he Government as a share of t he wat er t ax collect ed in t he area of operat ion of t he
Farmers' Organisat ion;

(ii) such ot her f unds, as may be grant ed by t he St at e and Cent ral Government f or t he development of t he area of
operat ion;
(iii) resources raised. f rom any f inancing agency f or undert aking any economic development act ivit ies in it s area
of operat ion;
(iv) income f rom t he propert ies and asset s at t ached t o t he irrigat ion syst em wit hin it s area of operat ion;
(v) f ees collect ed by t he Farmers' Organisat ion f or t he service rendered in connect ion wit h bet t er management of
t he irrigat ion syst em; and
(vi) sums received f rom any ot her source.

CHAPTER - V
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
25. Offenses and Penalties - Whoever, wit hout any lawf ul aut horit y, (a) damages, alt ers, enlarges or obst ruct s any irrigat ion syst em;
(b) int erf eres wit h, increases, or diminishes t he wat er supply in, or t he f low of wat er f rom, t hrough, over or
under any irrigat ion syst em;

(c) being responsible f or t he maint enance of t he irrigat ion syst em neglect s t o t ake proper precaut ions f or t he
prevent ion of wast age of t he wat er t hereof or int erf eres wit h t he aut horised dist ribut ion of wat er t heref rom, or
uses wat er in an unaut horised manner or in such manner so as t o cause damage t o t he adj acent land holdings;
(d) corrupt s or f ouls, wat er of any irrigat ion syst em so as t o render it less f it f or t he purposes f or which it is
ordinarily used;
(e) obst ruct s or removes any level marks or wat er gauge or any ot her mark or sign f ixed by t he aut horit y of a
public servant ; and

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(f ) opens, shut s or obst ruct s or at t empt s t o open, shut or obst ruct any sluice or out let or any ot her similar
cont rivance in any irrigat ion syst em; shall, on convict ion, be punished wit h imprisonment which may ext end t o
t wo years or wit h f ine which may ext end t o rupees f ive t housand or wit h bot h.
26. Punishment under other laws not barred - Not hing in t his Act shall prevent any person f rom being
prosecut ed and punished under any ot her law f or t he t ime being in f orce f or any act or omission made punishable
by or under t his Act :
Provided t hat no person shall be prosecut ed and punished f or t he same of f ence more t han once.
27. Composition of Offences - (1) A Farmers' Organisat ion may accept f rom any person who has commit t ed or in
respect of whom a reasonable belief can be inf erred t hat he has commit t ed an of f ence punishable under t his Act ,
a sum of money not exceeding rupees one t housand by way of composit ion f or such of f ence.

(2) On payment of such sum of money, t he said person, if in cust ody shall be discharged and no f urt her
proceedings shall be t aken against him in regard t o t he of f ence, so compounded.

CHAPTER - VI
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
28. Settlement of disputes - (1) Any disput e or dif f erence t ouching t he const it ut ion, management , powers or
f unct ions of a Farmers' Organisat ion arising bet ween members, shall be det ermined by t he managing commit t ee
of t he Farmers' Organisat ion concerned.
(2) Any disput e or dif f erence arising bet ween a Member and t he Managing Commit t ee of a Wat er Users'
Associat ion or bet ween t wo or more Wat er Users' Associat ions shall be det ermined by t he managing Commit t ee of
t he Dist ribut ory Commit t ee.

(3) Any disput e or dif f erence arising bet ween a Member and t he Managing Commit t ee of a Dist ribut ory
Commit t ee or bet ween t wo or more Dist ribut ory Commit t ees shall be det ermined by t he Proj ect Commit t ee.
(4) Any disput e or dif f erence arising bet ween a Member and t he Managing Commit t ee of a Proj ect Commit t ee or
bet ween t wo or more Proj ect Commit t ees shall be det ermined by t he Apex Commit t ee, whose decision shall be
f inal.
(5) Every disput e or dif f erence under t his sect ion shall be disposed of wit hin f ort y f ive days f rom t he dat e of
ref erence of t he disput e or dif f erence.
29. Appeals - (1) Any persons aggrieved by any decision made or order passed by t he Managing Commit t ee of a
Wat er Users' Associat ion under sub-sect ion (1) of sect ion 28 may appeal t o t he Managing Commit t ee of t he
Dist ribut ory Commit t ee, whose decision t hereon shall be f inal.
(2) Any person aggrieved by any decision made or order passed by t he Managing Commit t ee of a Dist ribut ory
Commit t ee under sub-sect ion (1) or sub-sect ion (2) of sect ion 28 may appeal t o t he Managing Commit t ee of a
Proj ect Commit t ee, whose decision t hereon shall be f inal.
(3) Any persons aggrieved by any decision made or order passed by t he Managing Commit t ee of a Proj ect
Commit t ee under sub-sect ion (1) or sub-sect ion (3) of sect ion 28 may appeal t o t he Apex Commit t ee, whose
decision t hereon shall be f inal.
(4) Any appeal under sub-sect ion (1) or sub-sect ion (2) or sub-sect ion (3) shall be pref erred wit hin f if t een days of
communicat ion of t he decision or t he order t o t he person aggrieved.
(5) Every appeal under t his sect ion shall be disposed of f wit hin t hirt y days f rom t he dat e of f iling of t he appeal
by adopt ing summary procedure.

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CHAPTER - VII
MISCELLANEOUS
30. Records - (1) Every Farmers' Organisat ion shall keep at it s of f ice, t he f ollowing account s, records and
document s, namely
(a) an up-t o-dat e copy of t his Act ;
(b) a map of t he area of operat ion of t he Farmers' Organisat ion along wit h map of t he st ruct ures and dist ribut ary
net works prepared in consult at ion wit h t he irrigat ion depart ment ;
(c) a st at ement of t he asset s and liabilit ies;
(d) minut es book;
(e) books of account showing receipt and payment s;
(f ) books of account of all purchases and sales of goods by t he Farmers' Organisat ion;
(g) regist er of measurement books, level f ield books, work orders and t he like;
(h) copies of audit report s and enquiry report s; and
(i) all such ot her account s, records and document s as may be prescribed f rom t ime t o t ime.

(2) The books of account s and ot her records shall be open f or inf ormat ion t o t he Members of t he Farmers'
Organisat ion.
31. Audit - Every Farmers' Organisat ion shall get it s account s audit ed in such manner as may be prescribed.
32. Recovery of dues - All t he amount s payable or due t o a Farmers' Organisat ion if not paid on demand, shall be
recovered as arrears of land revenue.
33. Meetings - The int ervals, t he procedure, t he presidency and t he quorum of t he meet ings of t he Farmers'
Organisat ion and t he Managing Commit t ee t hereof shall be such, as may be prescribed.
34. Resignation - (1) A member of Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion may resign his of f ice by a
let t er sent by regist ered post or t endered in person t o t he Chairman or President of t he Managing Commit t ee
concerned.
(2) The President of t he Managing Commit t ee of a Wat er Users' Associat ion may resign his of f ice by a let t er sent
by regist ered post or t endered in person t o t he President of t he Dist ribut ary Commit t ee concerned.

(3) The President of t he Managing Commit t ee of a Dist ribut ary Commit t ee may resign his of f ice by a let t er sent
by regist ered post or t endered in person t o t he Chairman of t he Proj ect Commit t ee concerned.
(4) The Chairman of t he Managing Commit t ee of a Proj ect Commit t ee may resign his of f ice by a let t er sent by
regist ered post or t endered t o t he Government .
(5) Such resignat ion as above ment ioned shall t ake ef f ect f rom t he dat e of it s accept ance or on t he expiry of
t hirt y days f rom t he dat e of it s receipt whichever is earlier.
35. Constitution of Apex Committee and appointment of Commissioner - (1) The Government may, by
not if icat ion, const it ut e an Apex Commit t ee wit h such number of Members as may be considered necessary.
(2) The Commit t ee const it ut ed under sub-sect ion (1) may exercise such powers and f unct ions as may be
necessary t o,
(a) lay-down t he policies f or implement at ion of t he provisions of t his Act ; and
(b) Give such direct ions t o any Farmers' Organisat ion, as may be considered necessary, in exercising t heir powers
and perf orming t heir f unct ions in accordance wit h t he provisions of t his Act .
(3) The Government may appoint a Commissioner t o exercise general cont rol and superint endence over t he
compet ent aut horit ies in perf ormance of t heir f unct ions under t his Act or t he rules made t here under.
(4) The powers t o be exercised and t he f unct ions t o be perf ormed by t he Commissioner shall be such as may be
prescribed by t he Government .

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36. Transitional Arrangements - The Government may by not if icat ion appoint an of f icer or of f icers t o exercise
t he powers and perf orm t he f unct ions of a Farmers' Organisat ion and t he Managing Commit t ee t hereof , t ill such
t ime such Farmers' Organisat ion is duly const it ut ed, or reconst it ut ed and such Managing Commit t ee assumes
of f ice under t he provisions of t his Act :

Provided t hat where a Farmers' Organisat ion regist ered under t he Raj ast han Societ ies Regist rat ion Act , 1958 (Act
No. - 28 of 1958) or t he Raj ast han Co-operat ive Societ ies Act , 1965 (Act No. 13 of 1965) has ent ered int o a
Memorandum of Underst anding wit h t he Government f or Part icipat ory Irrigat ion Management of t he syst em
bef ore promulgat ion of t his Act , such Organisat ion will cont inue t o exercise t he powers and f unct ions of a Wat er
Users' Associat ion f or respect ive area of operat ion up t o six mont hs f rom t he dat e of commencement of t his Act
and t he Managing Commit t ee of Wat er Users' Associat ion f or such wat er users area shall be const it ut ed wit hin six
mont hs.
37. Authentication of orders and documents of the Farmers' Organisation - All permission, orders, decisions,
not ices and ot her document s of t he Farmers' Organisat ion shall be aut hent icat ed under t he signat ure of t he
Chairperson or President of t he Farmers' Organisat ion or any ot her Member of t he Managing Commit t ee
aut horized by t he Managing Commit t ee in t his behalf .
38. Acts not to be invalidated by reason of defect or vacancy etc. - No act or proceedings of t he Managing
Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion shall be invalid by reason only of t he exist ence of any vacancy in, or def ect
in t he const it ut ion of t he said Commit t ee.
39. Deposit and administration of the funds - (1) The Farmers' Organisat ion shall keep t heir f unds in a
Nat ionalized Bank or a Co-operat ive Bank or a Post Of f ice.
Explanation: - Co-operat ive Bank means a Primary Agricult ural Co-operat ive Societ y or t he Dist rict Cent ral Cooperat ive Bank or t he Raj ast han St at e Co-operat ive Bank.

(2) The f unds shall be applied t owards meet ing of t he expenses incurred by t he Managing Commit t ee of t he
concerned Farmers' Organisat ion in t he administ rat ion of t his Act and f or no ot her purpose.
40. Sinking Fund - (1) The managing Commit t ee of t he Farmers' Organisat ion shall maint ain a sinking f und f or
t he repayment of moneys borrowed and shall pay every year int o t he sinking f und such sum as may be suf f icient
f or repayment wit hin t he period f ixed of all moneys so borrowed.
(2) The sinking f und or any part t hereof shall be applied in or t owards, t he discharge of t he loan f or which such
f und was creat ed and unt il such loan is wholly discharged, it shall not be applied f or any ot her purpose.
41. Budget - In every f inancial year, t he Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion shall prepare a budget
in respect of t he next f inancial year, showing t he est imat ed receipt s and expendit ure of t he commit t ee and shall
place bef ore t he General Body of t he Farmers' Organisat ion f or it s approval in t he manner, as may be prescribed.
42. Protection of acts done in good faith - No suit , prosecut ion or ot her legal proceedings shall be inst it ut ed
against any person f or anyt hing which is in good f ait h done or int ended t o be done under t his Act or under t he
rules made t here under.
43. Power to remove difficulties - If any dif f icult y arises in giving ef f ect t o t he provisions of t his Act or as t o t he
f irst const it ut ion or reconst it ut ion of any Farmers' Organisat ion af t er t he commencement of t his Act , t he
Government , as t he occasion may require, by order publ ished in t he Of f icial Gazet t e, make such provisions or
t ake such measures not in consist ent wit h any provisions of t his Act as appears t o it t o be necessary f or removing
such dif f icult y :

Provided t hat no such order shall be made af t er t he expiry of t hree years f rom t he dat e of commencement of
t his Act .
44. Merger of Societies - All t he Societ ies regist ered under t he Raj ast han Societ ies Regist rat ion Act , 1958 (Act
No. 28 of 1958) or t he Raj ast han Co-operat ive Societ ies Act , 1965 (Act No. 13 of 1965) prior t o t he
commencement of t his Act f or purposes of carrying out t he f unct ions f or Part icipat ory Irrigat ion Management

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shall cease t o exist and shall st and merged wit h Wat er Users' Associat ion having t he same area of operat ion wit h
ef f ect f rom t he dat e, t he Managing Commit t ee of t he Wat er Users' Associat ion is f ormed in accordance wit h
sect ion 5 of t his Act .
45. Dissolution of Managing Committee of a Farmers' Organisation - In case of any embezzlement , f raud, abuse
of powers and f unct ions or any ot her act on t he part of Managing Commit t ee of a Farmers' Organisat ion in
cont ravent ion of t he provisions of t his Act , t he Compet ent Aut horit y of t he proj ect area shall have power t o
dissolve t he Managing Commit t ee and t o make t ransit ional arrangement s t o carry out t he f unct ions of t he
Farmers' Organisat ion provided t hat in case of such di ssolut ion t he Managing Commit t ee shall be re-const it ut ed
wit hin a period of t hree mont hs f rom t he dat e of dissolut ion.
46. Savings - (1) Not hing cont ained in t his Act shall af f ect t he right s of or propert ies vest ed in, Panchayat i Raj
Inst it ut ions and Municipalit ies under any law f or t he t ime being in f orce.

(2) Not hing cont ained in t his Act shall apply t o t he minor wat er bodies in t he Scheduled Areas declared by t he
President of India under Part C of t he Fif t h Schedule of t he Const it ut ion of India, in t he St at e of Raj ast han.
(3) All lawf ul act s perf ormed/ decisions t aken, as well as any asset s and liabilit ies creat ed by Wat er Users'
Associat ion regist ered under t he Raj ast han Societ ies Regist rat ion Act , 1958 (Act No. 28 of 1958) or t he Raj ast han
Co-operat ive Societ ies Act , 1965 (Act No. 13 of 1965) prior t o commencement of t his Act , shall be deemed t o
have been perf ormed/ t aken or creat ed by t he Wat er Users' Associat ion f ormed under sect ion 4 of t his Act f or t he
respect ive area.
(4) The operat ion and maint enance of t he main canal, it s branches and larger dist ribut aries of maj or and medium
proj ect s shall cont inue t o be t he responsibilit y of t he Irrigat ion/ Command Area Development Depart ment .
47. Power to make rules - (1) The St at e Government may, by not if icat ion in t he Of f icial Gazet t e, make rules f or
carrying out t he purposes of t his Act .
(2) All rules made under t his Act shall be laid, as soon as may be af t er t hey are so made, bef ore t he House of t he
St at e Legislat ure, while it is in session, f or a period of not less t han f ourt een days which may be comprised in
one session or in t wo successive session and if bef ore t he expiry of t he session in which t hey are so laid or of t he
session immediat ely f ollowing, t he House of t he St at e Legi slat ure makes any modif icat ion if any of such rules or
resolves t hat any such rules should not be made, such r ules shall t hereaf t er have ef f ect only in such modif ied
f orm or be of no ef f ect , as t he case may be, so however, t hat any such modif icat ion or annulment shall be
wit hout prej udice t o t he validit y of anyt hing previously done t here under.
48. Repeal and Savings - (1) The Raj ast han Farmers' Part icipat ion in Management of Irrigat ion Syst ems
Ordinance, 2000 (Ordinance No. 5 of 2000) is hereby repealed.
(2) Not wit hst anding such repeal, all act ions t aken or orders made under t he said Ordinance shall be deemed t o
have been t aken or made under t his Act .
Harbans Lal,
Secretary to the Government.