Gandhinagar, 26 February 2013

The Gujarat assembly today passed the Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2013 with majority. The bill was tabled by the state government yesterday with a motive to replace and repeal the existing Gujarat Irrigation Act 1879.

The bill proposes appointment of canal officers having rank of additional assistant engineer or above with wide powers like monitoring of the irrigation schemes, water distribution, maintenance of irrigation channels, setting up and maintenance of water-gauges and inquiry and examination wherever there is breach of the proposed provisions of the bill.

One of the provisions of the bill is, if a farmer having his own agriculture land wants to construct a tube-well or bore-well or an artesian well, exceeding the depth as prescribed by the government for extracting ground water, he shall have to apply for a licence from the canal officer of his area. And only upon grant of licence from the canal officer, he can construct the tubewell or borewell or artesian well.The Bill proposes penal action including imprisonment upto six months or fine to the extent of Rs 10,000 against the farmers who break this rules.

It is also proposed that all farmers with existing tubewell, borewell and artisan well, having depth more than that prescribed by the state government, obtain a certificate from their respective canal officer with in three months of the bill coming in force.

Water resources minister Babu Bokhiria told the house, “The main object of the (new) Bill is to increase the performance efficiency of irrigation schemes in the state with a view to bring about equitable distribution of water for irrigation with the help of farmers and maximising the benefits from irrigation. At present the irrigation through surface water and ground water is regulated by the Gujarat Irrigation Act, 1879. Consistent with the principles and guidelines for equitable and efficient irrigation through adoption of rotational water distribution system and supply of water, levy of water rates on volumetric basis and participation of farmers in irrigation management, it is considered necessary to enact the fresh legislation replacing the Gujarat Ittigation Act, 1879.”

The Bill further proposes to achieve the objectives by providing for realisation of optimum use of water for irrigation; supplying it on basis of volume and charging for the same on volumetric basis. It also proposes participation of farmers in the water management by requiring them to form associations for obtaining water for irrigation on volumetric basis.

Congress chief whip in the assembly Balwantsinh Rajput opposing the bill said, “In Gujarat industries do not need a licence to extract ground water, but now (with this proposed Bill) a poor farmer will have to obtain a licence to get water for irrigation.”