The Andhra Pradesh Irrigation (Construction and Maintenance of Water Courses) Act, 1965.
**THE ANDHRA PRADESH IRRIGATION (CONSTRUCTION AND**
**MAINTENANCE OF WATER COURSES) ACT, 1965**

**(ACT No.12 of 1965)**

**ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS**

**SECTIONS**

1. Short title, extent and Commencement

2. Definitions

3. Obligation of ayacutdars to construct water courses

4. Power of Irrigation officer to construct water-course suo motu or
on application

5. Enquiry into objections and publication

6. Acquisition of land

6A. Acquisition of land with the consent of the beneficiaries

7. The cost of construction of water-course

8. Construction of water-course

9. Recovery of the cost of construction of water-course when it is
carried out by the Irrigation Officer

10. Discontinuance from the construction of water-course

11. Obligation of owners of lands which receive or discharge water
through water course

12. Right to enforce the obligation under section 11

13. Protection of action taken under the Act

14. Act to override other laws, contracts, etc.

15. Power to make rules

16. Repeal


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**THE ANDHRA PRADESH IRRIGATION (CONSTRUCTION AND**
**MAINTENANCE OF WATER COURSES) ACT, 1965**

**(ACT No.12 of 1965)**

(1[st] May, 1965)

**AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF**
**WATER COURSES IN THE AYACUT OF IRRIGATION WORKS AND**
**FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.**

BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Andhra Pradesh in the
Sixteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:
**1. Short title, extent and Commencement - (1) This Act may be called the**
Andhra Pradesh Irrigation (Construction and Maintenance of Water Courses)
Act, 1965.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by
notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, appoint.

**2. Definitions - In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -**

(a) "ayacut" in relation to an irrigation work means all the lands
which are entitled to irrigation under that irrigation work;

(b) "ayacutdar" means owner of land in an ayacut;

(c) "construction" includes extension, improvement or alteration of
water course;

(d) "Government" means the State Government;

(e) "Irrigation Officer" means any officer of the Revenue Department
or the Public Works Department not below the rank of a Revenue
Divisional Officer or an Executive Engineer, empowered or
authorised by the Government to exercise all or any of the
functions of an Irrigation Officer under this Act;

(f) "Irrigation work" includes
(i) all rivers and natural streams or parts thereof;

(ii) all lakes and other natural collections of water, or parts
thereof;

(iii) all tanks, wells, tube wells, reservoirs, ponds, kuntas,
streams madugus used for the supply or storage of water for
purpose of irrigation;

(iv) all canals, channels, anicuts, dams, embankments,
weirs, sluices, groins, kuntas, and other work, other than
escape channels, connected with, or auxiliary to the
irrigation works referred to in sub-clauses (i) to (iii);

(v) all drainage channels, the water of which is utilised for
the purpose of irrigation;

(vi) all lands used for the purpose of irrigation works referred
to in sub-clauses (i) to (v) ; and

(vii) all buildings, machinery, fences, gates, roads and other
erections occupied by, or belonging to, the Government and
connected with an irrigation work; which are owned,
maintained, constructed or controlled by the Government;

(g) "owner" in relation to any land in respect of which land revenue
is payable means the person liable to pay land revenue and in
relation to any land in respect of which no land revenue is payable
means the person who would have been liable to pay land revenue


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if it had been payable on such land; and includes a ryot having a
permanent right of occupancy in the land;

(h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(i) "Revenue Divisional Officer" means any officer incharge of a
Revenue division and includes a Deputy Collector, a Sub Collector
and an Assistant Collector;

(j) "water-course" means a field channel which receives supply of
water from the outlet of an irrigation work and conveys water to
lands included within the ayacut of that work and which is not
maintained at the cost of the Government and includes all
subsidiary works connected with any such channel except the
sluice or outlet through which water is supplied from irrigation
work to such channel.

**3. Obligation of ayacutdars to construct water courses - The owners of all**
lands within each distinct block of such extent not exceeding one hundred
acres as may be prescribed, in the ayacut of an irrigation work shall be liable to
construct and maintain, at their own cost, water-courses required for the
supply of water to their lands from the distributaries of the irrigation work for
irrigation purposes and for the discharge of waste or surplus water from those
lands in accordance with such directions as may be issued by the Irrigation
Officer.

**4. Power of Irrigation officer to construct water-course suo motu or on**
**application - (1) Whenever an Irrigation Officer considers suo motu or on the**
application of an ayacutdar that the construction of a water-course, is
expedient or necessary, he shall ascertain the most suitable alignment for the
said water-course and cause the land which in his opinion is necessary for the
construction thereof to be marked out on the ground.

(2) He shall thereupon publish a notice in the prescribed manner in every
village through which the water course is proposed to be taken specifying the
extent of land which lies in such village and which has been marked out under
sub-section (1) and requiring
(a) every owner who wishes to receive supply of water to his land
through the water-course or to make use of the water-course for
drainage purposes to make an application in that behalf to the
Irrigation Officer within thirty days of publication of notice;

(b) every person likely to be affected by the construction of the
water-course or interested in the land on which it is proposed to
construct the water-course to submit his petition to the Irrigation
Officer stating his objections to the proposed construction within
sixty days of publication of the notice.

(3) The Irrigation Officer shall also send copies of the notice to every
person known or believed to be the owner of the land through which the watercourse is proposed to be taken and to the District Collector for publication in
the Andhra Pradesh Gazette.

(4) The Irrigation Officer where he is not the Revenue Divisional Officer
shall, as soon as may be after the expiry of the period specified in the notice,
make a report to the Revenue Divisional Officer regarding the proposed watercourse together with a plan showing the alignment thereof and objections, if
any, received by him.

**5. Enquiry into objections and publication - (1) The Revenue Divisional**
Officer shall, after giving notice to every person known or believed to be the
1[beneficiary and the owner of the land through which the water-course is
proposed to be taken], pass such orders in respect of the proposed

1 . Substituted by Act No. 8 of 1966, s. 2


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construction as he may deem necessary and the order so passed shall be
published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette.

(2) The order passed under sub-section (1) shall, if it is decided to
construct a water-course, contain the following particulars, namely
(i) the district, taluk, village and the survey number and
description of the land on which the water course is proposed to be
constructed;

(ii) the approximate area of such land;

(iii) where the plan of the land is made, the place where such plan
may be inspected.

(3) Against any order passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer under
sub-section (1) an appeal shall lie to the District Collector, within [1][thirty days]
from the date of publication of the order of the Revenue Divisional Officer in the
Andhra Pradesh Gazette and the District Collector may, after giving the parties
to the appeal an opportunity of being heard pass orders on the appeal.

(4) The decision of the District Collector under sub-section (3) and where
no appeal is filed, the decision of the Revenue Divisional Officer under
sub- section (1) shall, on publication in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, be final.

**6. Acquisition of land –** [2][(1) Where the land needed for the construction of the
water-course is not provided by the persons to be benefited by the watercourse, the Revenue Divisional Officer shall proceed to acquire the land under
3the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Central Act V of 1894).]

4[Provided that the land needed for the construction of any water-course
under the Nagarjunasagar Project shall be acquired under the provisions of the
Land Acquisition Act, 1894 as modified by the Nagarjunasagar Project
(Acquisition of Land) Act, 1956.]

4[(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1) of section 6, section 3,
section 4 or section 5 of this Act
(i) any proceeding started or action taken by or on behalf of
the Government under the provisions of the Land Acquisition
Act, 1894 as modified by the Nagarjunasagar Project
(Acquisition of Land) Act, 1956 before the commencement of
the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation (Construction and
Maintenance of Water Courses) Amendment Act, 1966, for
the acquisition of land needed for the construction of any
water-course under the Nagarjunasagar Project shall be
deemed to be proceeding started or action taken in
pursuance of the aforesaid sub-section (1) of section 6;

(ii) the Revenue Divisional Officer may, after the
commencement of the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation
(Construction and Maintenance of Water-Courses)
Amendment Act, 1966, acquire any land needed for the
construction of any water course under the Nagarjunasagar
Project under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act,
1894 as modified by the Nagarjunasagar Project (Acquisition
of Land) Act, 1956 and any proceeding started or action
taken in respect thereof shall be deemed to be proceeding
started or action taken in pursuance of the aforesaid
sub- section (1) of section 6.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and the
Nagarjunasagar Project (Acquisition of Land) Act, 1956, it shall be lawful for

1 . substituted by Act No. 8 of 1966, s 2.
2 Renumbered by Act No.8 of 1966, s 3.
3 . The Land Acquisition Act, 1894 has been repealed by the Central Act No.30 of 2013.
4 . Added by Act No.8 of 1966, s 3


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the Revenue Divisional Officer to take possession of any land with the consent
in writing of the owner of the land in respect of which any proceeding or action
for acquisition for the construction of any water-course has been started or
taken under any of the said Acts.]

**1 [6-A. Acquisition of land with the consent of the beneficiaries -**
Notwithstanding anything in section 3, section 4, section 5 or section 6 of this
Act, where all the owners of lands to be benefited by the water-course other
than a water-course under the Nagarjunasagar Project give their consent in
writing, in the form prescribed, to the Revenue Divisional Officer, for the
acquisition of the land needed for the construction of the water-course at their
cost as provided in this Act, the Revenue Divisional Officer may thereupon
proceed to acquire the land under [2]the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.]

**7. The cost of construction of water-course - (1) The cost of the construction**
of water-course shall include the following namely: 
(i) the cost of acquiring the land for the purpose;

(ii) the cost of the works, if any, to be constructed for the
passage across the water-course, of water or drainage which
the water-course may intercept and for providing suitable
means of communication across it, wherever necessary;

(iii) such other costs as may be prescribed.

(2) The cost referred to in sub-section (1) shall be apportioned among all
the owners of the lands entitled to the use of the water-course in proportion to
their respective extents of lands which may be served by the water-course.

**3[8. Construction of water-course - After the land needed for the construction**
of a water-course is secured, the Irrigation Officer may get the water-course
constructed or permit the persons to be benefited to construct the water-course
themselves subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.]

**9. Recovery of the cost of construction of water-course when it is carried**
**out by the Irrigation Officer - (1) The Revenue Divisional Officer may order**
the recovery in such installments as may be prescribed, of the cost of
construction of any water-course including the amount of any compensation
payable or that may have been paid for the purpose, from the owners of the
land served by [4][the water-course got constructed by the Irrigation Officer]
under section 8 in proportion to the extent of land owned by them as provided
in the rules.

(2) Any amount due under this section shall be recoverable as an arrear
of land revenue.

(3) Against any order passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer under
sub-section (1), an appeal shall lie 5 [within thirty days from the date of
communication of the order] to the District Collector whose decision thereon
shall be final.

**10. Discontinuance from the construction of water-course - The Irrigation**
Officer, may, at any time after obtaining sanction of the Government and shall,
where the Government so direct, discontinue the construction of water-course.

1 . Inserted by Act No 8 of 1966, s 4.
2 . The Land Acquisition Act, 1894 has been repealed by the Central Act No.30 of 2013.
3 . substituted by Act No 8 of 1966, s 5.
4 . substituted by Act No 8 of 1966, s 6.
5 . inserted by Act No 8 of 1966, s 6.


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**11. Obligation of owners of lands which receive or discharge water**
**through water-course - (1) The owner or owners of lands which receive or**
discharge water through a water-course shall be bound 
(a) to maintain the water-course in a fit state of repair;

(b) to maintain all work necessary for the passage across the water
course of any public road or irrigation or drainage work in use at
the time of its construction and of the drainage intercepted by it.

(2) Where one or some of the owners carry out the obligations imposed
under this section and any other or others of them dispute their liability to
contribute, an application may be made in writing to the Irrigation Officer by
any of the owners setting out the matter in dispute and the Irrigation Officer,
shall make necessary inquiry into the matter after giving an opportunity to the
parties to be heard and pass such order thereon as he deems fit.

(3) Against an order passed by the Irrigation Officer under sub-section
(2), an appeal shall lie [1][within thirty days from the date of communication of
the order] to the District Collector whose decision thereon shall be final.

**12. Right to enforce the obligation under section 11 - (1) If any of the**
obligations imposed by section 11 are not carried out, any Irrigation Officer
duly empowered in this behalf by the District Collector may require the
defaulter by notice in writing to execute the necessary work or repair within
such period, as may be prescribed and in case of failure, may execute the same
on his behalf.

(2) All expenses incurred by the Irrigation Officer in the execution of such
work or repair shall be recoverable from the defaulter as an arrear of land
revenue and where there are a number of persons in default, such recovery
shall be made in proportion to the extent of land held by each of them and
served by the water-course.

(3) Where a water-course is not maintained in a fit state of repair and a
stoppage of the supply of water thereto is necessary to prevent such waste of
water, the Irrigation Officer may stop the supply until the repairs are executed
provided three days’ notice of such stoppage shall be given to the defaulter
except where an immediate stoppage is considered necessary to prevent serious
waste of water or damage.

(4) Against any order passed by the Irrigation Officer under this section,
an appeal shall lie within thirty days from the date of communication of the
order to the District Collector whose decision thereon shall be final.

**13. Protection of action taken under the Act - No suit, prosecution or other**
legal proceeding shall lie against any officer for anything which is done, or
intended to be done in good faith, in pursuance of the Act or the rules.

**14. Act to override other laws, contracts, etc. - The provisions of this Act**
shall have effect notwithstanding anything in consistent therewith in any other
law, custom, usage, or agreement for the time being in force or any decree or
order of a court, Tribunal or other authority.

**15. Power to make rules - (1) The Government may, by notification in the**
Andhra Pradesh Gazette, and after previous publication for a period of not less
than thirty days, make rules for carrying out all or any of the purposes of this
Act.

(2) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature while it is in session
for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in
two successive sessions, and if, before the expiration of the session in which it
so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any
notification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall thereafter

1 . Inserted by Act No 8 of 1966, s 7.


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have effect only in such modified form or shall stand annulled, as the case may
be, so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without
prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

**16. Repeal - The provisions of sections 13 to 18 (both inclusive) of the Andhra**
Pradesh (Telangana Area) Irrigation Act, 1357 F (Act XXIV of 1357 F) are
hereby repealed.


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