Gujarat's new irrigation Bill gets Governor's nod

Congress terms new bill as anti-farmer, plans statewide agitation

The Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2013, which was passed in the state assembly on February 27, amidst opposition from the Congress, has got the assent from Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal, water resources minister Babu Bokhiria said on Thursday

"I got the message yesterday that the Governor has approved the Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2013," Bokhiria told Business Standard. Now, the bill would become an Act and will be notified in the state gazette.

The opposition Congress had vehemently opposed the new legislation proposed by the government claiming that it had the same colonial ethos like that of the present Act which was introduced by the British in 1879. It had further claimed that the new bill proposes to give artificial control  in a way total control over the irrigation water to the canal officer who is part of the administration.

Congress president Arjun Modhwadia said,"The new irrigation bill puts restrictions on the farmers but it does not restrict the industries from using the water resources of the state. This law is anti-farmer and will harm them in the future."

"However, we plan to intensify our agitation against the new law. We plan to take it to block and village level and demand that the new legislation be withdrawn," Modhwadia said when asked about what the party intended to do on the issue.

The Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2013, will replace  and repeal the existing Gujarat Irrigation Act 1879.

The new Act will make it mandatory for farmers to seek licence to construct tubewell, borewell or well, with depth exceeding that prescribed for extracting ground water.  Under the new legislature canal officers having rank of additional assistant engineer or above will be appointment.

The canal officer has been given wide powers to over see the implementation of the Act. This would include to monitor the irrigation schemes, water distribution, maintenance of irrigation channels, set up and maintain water-gauges and conduct inquiry and examination wherever there is breach of the proposed provisions of the bill.

One of the provisions of the new Act is that if a farmer, having his own agriculture land, wants to construct a tubewell or borewell 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.

The Act also has provision for penal action against the farmers who break this rules. And the penal action could include imprisonment upto six months or fine to the extent of Rs 10,000.