New bill forces Guj farmers to take licence to draw water

The Gujarat government today tabled an irrigation bill in the Assembly which seeks to make it compulsory for farmers to seek licence to draw water from canal or ground well beyond a certain limit and has prescribed penal action against the errant farmers.
The Irrigation and Drainage Bill 2013 tabled by Water Resources Minister Babu Bokhiria has proposed that farmers should obtain licence to draw underground water exceeding certain prescribed depths and there would be penal action in case of non-compliance.
The bill which seeks to replace the existing Gujarat Irrigation Act, 1879 has evoked strong objections from the opposition Congress and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP).

Terming the bill as "anti farmers", Congress and GPP said that the bill would be a disaster for farmers and demanded review of the bill by a select committee of the House.
The bill has proposed appointment of canal officers with a minimum rank of additional assistant engineer who have been given wide powers, including the power to detain the erring farmers.
The new bill prescribes provisions to monitor irrigation schemes, water distribution, maintenance of irrigation channels, set up and maintain water-gauges and conduct enquiry and examination wherever there is breach of the provisions of the bill.

The bill makes it mandatory for a farmer to apply for a licence from the canal officer of his area if he wants to construct a tubewell or borewell or an artesian well for extracting ground water if it is exceeding the depth as prescribed by the government.

"And only upon grant of licence from the canal officer, he can construct a tubewell or borewell or artesian well," according to the bill.
The Bill has also proposed penal action against the violating farmers which include imprisonment upto six months or fine upto Rs 10,000.