By our correspondent, Gandhinagar, 27 February 2013

Following are main points presented by Gujarat Minister Babubhai Bokhiria on Gujarat Irrigation and Water Drainage Management Bill 2013. The bill was passed today in Gujarat assembly:

-Earlier farmers were charged for betterment in canals, but now now government wants to repair all old irrigation canals spending government money, and wants to supply water to last farmer. Therefore sections 49-56 are canceled. Provision 15(C) was about charging the farmers for building channel in his farm. It has also been amended. If needed now Government will construct channels on its own and repair them too. Sections 16-26 are considered irrelevant and canceled.

-The government will take strict actions against those obstructing water in canal network. Earlier provision of fine of Rs 50 has been replaced with Rs 5000 and one month simple imprisonment has been replaced with maximum three months imprisonment with or without fine. One who creates danger against the strenth or security of canal would be fined upto Rs 10,000 or six months jail or both instead of earlier provision of Rs 200 fine and six months jail.

-Misleading observations are propagated about this bill, but actually provisions in this bill’s section 27 and 38 are softer than central government’s Prevention of damages to public property act, 1984’s section 3. There’s a provision of up to five year jail and unlimited fine in this central law, and when it’s about water distribution and supply there’s a provision of minimum six months and maximum five years jail and unlimited amount of fine.

-The Gujarat bill has provision of not allowing deeper tube wells or bore wells than prescribed limit.The government had lifted restrictions in dark zone areas last year and therefore it was necessary to make amendments in earlier provisions. Therefore provisions of fine upto Rs 10,000 and six months imprisonment are made.

-Out of total water storage, 88% is supplied to farmers, 10% is used for drinking purpose and 2% is supplied to industries. The government spends lot to maintain irrigation network, dams and canals, and the sum generated from farmers for that is negligible.

Such laws were made by Britishers in 1879. 46 unnecessary sections are removed from it. Water drainage related laws are 135 years, and amendment are needed.

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