Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Management of Irrigation Systems - Act, 2000

English — official source version

tnfmis_act_2001_7.pdf.txt

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TAMIL NADU  

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE 

 

EXTRORDINARY        PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY 

    [No.178]                                     CHENNAI,  MONDAY,  MARCH 5, 2001 

Maasi 21, Vikkrama, Thiruvalluvar Aandu - 2032 

Part IV – Section 2 

Tamil Nadu Acts and Ordinances. 

 

THE TAMIL NADU FARMERS’ MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION  

SYSTEMS ACT 2000 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS. 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

Sections : 

1. Short title, extent and commencement 

2. Definitions. 

CHAPTER II 

FARMERS’ ORGANISATIONS. 

3. Delineation of Water Users Association area. 

4. Constitution of Water Users Association. 

5. Constitution of managing committee of Water Users 

Association and election of its President and Members. 

6. Delineation of  Distributory Committee area. 

7. Constitution of  Distributory Committee. 

8. Constitution of managing committee of Distributory 

Committee and election of its President and Members. 

9. Delineation of Project Area 

10. Constitution of Project Committee. 

11. Constitution of managing committee of Project Committee and 

election of its Chairman and Members. 

12. Constitution of Apex Committee. 

13. Procedure for recall. 

14. Constitution of  sub-committee in farmers organisation. 

15. Farmers  Organisation to be a body corporate. 

16. Changes in farmers  organisation. 

17. Disqualification of candidates or members. 

18. Resignation. 



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19. Filling up of vacancies. 

20. Acts not to be invalidated by vacancy, etc., 

21. Meetings. 

CHAPTER III 

FUNCTIONS OF FARMERS ORGANISATION 

 

22. Functions of Water Users Association. 

23. Functions of Distributory Committee. 

24. Functions of Project Committee. 

25. Power to levy and collect fees. 

26. Appointment of competent authority and his functions. 

 
CHAPTER IV 

FUNDS OF FARMERS ORGANISATION 

 

27. Fund of farmers organisation. 

28. Deposit and administration of the Fund. 

29. Sinking Fund. 

30. Audit. 

31. Budget. 

CHAPTER V 

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 

 

32. Offences and penalties. 

33. Cognizance of offences. 

34. Punishment under other laws not barred. 

35. Compounding of offences. 

 

 

CHAPTER VI 

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES 

 

36. Settlement of disputes. 

37. Appeals. 



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38. Records. 

CHAPTER VII 

MISCELLANEOUS 

39. Recovery of moneys due to farmers organisation as arrears of 

land revenue. 

40. Meetings. 

41. Appointment of Commissioner. 

42. Merger of already formed and registered Farmers Associations 

and transitional arrangements. 

43. Authentication of orders and documents of the farmers 

organisation. 

44. Protection of action taken in good faith. 

45. Power to remove difficulties. 

46. Power of Government to give directions. 

47. Revision by Commissioner. 

48. Operation of other laws not affected. 

49. Savings. 

50. Power to make rules. 

 
The following Act of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly 

received the assent of the President on the 25th February 2001 and is 

hereby published for general information:- 

 

ACT No. 7 OF 2001 

An Act to provide for Farmers’ participation in the Management of 

Irrigation Systems and for matters connected therewith or incidental 

thereto. 

 

WHEREAS the State of Tamil Nadu is essentially an 

agricultural State depending on efficient and equitable supply and 

distribution of water, which is a National wealth ensuring optimum 

utilisation by farmers for improvement of agricultural production; 

 

AND WHEREAS it is essential to promote and secure 

distribution of water among its users, adequate maintenance of the 

irrigation system, efficient and economical utilisation of water to 

optimize agricultural production, by involving the farmers and 

inculcating a sense of ownership of the irrigation system in them in 

accordance with the water budget and the operational plan; 

 

AND WHEREAS scientific and systematic development and 

maintenance of irrigation infrastructure is considered best possible 

through farmers organisations; 



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AND WHEREAS such farmers organisations have to be given 

an effective role in the management and maintenance of the irrigation 

system for effective and reliable supply and distribution of water. 

 

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tamil Nadu 

in the Fifty-first Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 

 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ 

Management of Irrigation Systems - Act, 2000. 

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu. 

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government 

may, by notification, appoint and different dates may be appointed for 

different areas and for different provisions of this Act. 

 

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

(a) ‘Apex Committee’ means the Apex Committee 

constituted under Section 12; 

(b) ‘area of operation’ in relation to a farmers organisation 

means a contiguous block of land in the command area as 

the Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf; 

(c) ‘ayacut road’ means a road within the area of operation, but 

does not include any road vested in a Village Panchayat, 

Panchayat Union, Town Panchayat, Municipality, Municipal 

Corporation and Highways; 

(d) ‘canal system; means- 

(i) main canals, branch canals, distributories and 

water courses constructed for the supply and 

distribution of water for irrigation; 

(ii) all works, structures and appliances connected 

with the distribution of water for irrigation; and 

(iii) all field channels and other related channels and 

structures under an irrigation sluice. 

 

(e) ‘Collector’ means the Collector of a district in which the 

irrigation system is situated and includes any officer 

specially appointed by the Government to perform all or 

any of the functions of the Collector under this Act; 

(f) ‘command area’ means an area irrigated under any 

irrigation system either by gravitational flow or by lift 

 

 

 
Short title, extent and 

commencement 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Definitions 



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irrigation or by any other method from a Government 

source and includes every such area whether it is called 

‘ayacut’ or by any other name under any law for the time 

being in force; 

(g) competent authority’ means the authority 

appointed under Section 26; 

(h) drainage system’ in relation to an irrigation 

system includes- 

(i)    channels either natural or artificial, for the discharge 

of waste or surplus water and all works connected 

therewith or ancillary thereto; 

(j) escape channels from an irrigation or canal system and 

other works connected therewith, but does not include 

works for removal of sewage; 

(k) all collecting drains and main drains to drain off 

surplus water from field drains; and 

(l) all field drains and related structures under 

irrigation sluices; 

 

(i) ‘farmers organisation’ means the- 

 

(i) ‘Water Users Association’ at the primary level 

consisting of all the water users, as constituted under 

Section 4: or 

(ii)  ‘Distributory Committee’ at secondary level, 

as constituted under Section 7: or 

(iii) ‘Project Committee’ at the project level, as 

constituted under Section 10; 

(j) ‘field channel’ includes a channel existing or to be 

constructed by the Government or by the water users or by 

any agency to receive and distribute water from a sluice; 

(k) ‘field drain’ includes a channel excavated and maintained 

by the water users or by any other agency, to discharge 

waste or surplus water from the land holding under a sluice 

and includes drains, escape channels and other similar 

works existing or to be constructed; 

(l) ‘financing agency’ means any commercial bank or any co- 

operative society or any other bank or organisation 

established or incorporated under any law, for the time 

being in force, which lends money for the development of 

the area of operation of the farmers organisation; 

(m) ‘Government’ means the State Government; 

(n) ‘Government source’ means any source of water under the 

control of the Water Resources Organisation; 

 

 

 



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(o) ‘hydraulic basis’ means the basis for identifying a viable 

irrigated area served by one or more hydraulic structures 

such as head works, main canal, branches, distributories, 

sluices and the like; 

(p) ‘irrigation system’ means such major, medium and minor 

irrigation system for harnessing water for irrigation and 

other allied uses from Government source and includes 

reservoirs, open head channels, diversion systems, lift 

irrigation schemes, anicuts, tanks, wells and the like. 

 

Explanation – For the purpose of this clause, -- 

 

(i) ‘Major Irrigation System’ means irrigation system 

under Major Irrigation Project having irrigable 

command area of more than 10,000 hectares. 

(ii)  ‘Medium Irrigation System’ means irrigation 

system under Medium Irrigation Project having 

irrigable command area of more than 2,000 hectares 

and upto 10,000 hectares; 

(iii) ‘Minor Irrigation System’ means irrigation system 

under Minor Irrigation Project having irrigable 

command area upto 2,000 hectares; 

 

(q) ‘land’ means any land under any reigstered ayacut of any 

irrigation system; 

(r) ‘maintenance’ means execution of such works on the 

irrigation system as are necessary to ensure that the 

physical system designed to the standards operates for the 

proper distribution of water to the lands; 

(s) ‘managing committee’ means the managing committee of 

any farmers organisation; 

(t) ‘operational plan’ means a schedule of irrigation deliveries 

with details of the mode and duration of supplies drawn up 

for regulation of irrigation in any command area; 

(u) ‘Rotational Water Supply’ means a system of distribution 

of water to water users by turn, according to an approved 

schedule, indicating the day, duration and time of supply; 

(v) ‘territorial constituency’ means a contiguous block of 

command area of one or more sluices under a Water Users 

Association area; 

(w) ‘water allocation’ in relation to an irrigation system means 

the distribution of water determined from time to time by a 

farmers organisation in its area of operation; 

(x) ‘Water Resources Organisation’ means the Water 

Resources Organisation of the Public Works Department of 

the Government; 



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(y) ‘water user’ means any farmer holding any land either as 

the owner or as the tenant recorded as such in the revenue 

records of rights in respect of such land and includes any 

other individual or body or a society using water for 

agriculture, from a Government source. 
 

CHAPTER II 

FARMERS ORGANISATION 

3. (1)The Collector may, in such manner as may be 

prescribed, delineate command area under each irrigation 

system on a hydraulic basis, which may be administratively 

viable, and declare it to be a Water Users Association area 

for the purposes of this Act; 

 

Provided that in respect of the command area under the minor 

irrigation systems, the entire command area may as far as possible, 

form a single Water Users Association area. 

 

(2) Every Water Users Associations area shall be divided into 

territorial constituencies, which shall not be less than four, but shall not 

be more than ten, as may be prescribed. 

 

4. (1) There shall be a Water Users Association called by 

its local distinct name for every Water Users Association 

area delineated under Section 3. 

 

 (2) Every Water Users Association shall consist of all the water 

users in such Water Users Association area, as members: 

 

Provided that any person, who is in lawful possession and 

enjoyment of any land, may, on proof of such possession and such 

enjoyment in a crop year, claim membership, notwithstanding whether 

he is a recorded land holder or not, in which case the Water Users 

Association shall not refuse the membership of such person for the 

purposes of this Act, and such person shall be liable to pay the fees, as 

if he is the water user: 

 

Provided further that any person who is eligible to become a 

member for more than one territorial constituency of a Water Users 

Association shall be entitled to be a member of only one territorial 

constituency, at his option. 

 

 (3) The members specified in sub-section (2) shall constitute the 

general body for the respective Water Users Association and such 

members alone shall have the right to vote. 

 

5. (1) There shall be managing committee for every Water Users 

Association. 

 

 

 
 

Delineation of Water Users 

Association area 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Constitution of Water Users 

Association 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Constitution of managing 

committee of Water Users 

Association and election of its 

President and members 

 



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(2)  The Collector shall make arrangements for  the election    

of the President of the Managing Committee of the  

Water Users Association by direct election from among 

its members, by the method of secret ballot, in such 

manner as may be prescribed. 

 

(3) The Collector shall also make arrangements for the 

election of the members of the managing committee, 

consisting of one member from each of the territorial 

constituency of the Water Users Association area, by the 

method of secret ballot, in such manner as may be 

prescribed. 

 

(4) If at an election held under sub-section (2) or (3), the 

President or the member in any territorial constituency is 

not elected, fresh election shall be held in the same 

manner as specified in sub- section (2) or (3), as the case 

may be : 

 

Provided that the Government may, for the reasons to be 

recorded in writing, from time to time, postpone the election. 

 

            (5) The President and the members of the managing committee   

shall, if not recalled under section 13, be in office for a period of five 

years and six months*, from the date of the first meeting of the managing 

committee. 

 

*Amendment of section 5   

T.N.Govt Gazettee 

Extraordinary 

No.26/29.1.2009 

 

 

(6)The managing committee shall exercise the powers and perform 

the functions of the Water Users Association. 

        6. The Government may, in such manner as may be prescribed, 

delineate command area of each major and medium irrigation system, 

comprising of two or more Water Users Associations, and declare it to be 

a Distributory Committee area for the purposes of this Act. 

 

        7. (1) There shall be a Distributory Committee called by its local 

distinct name for every Distributory Committee area declared as such 

under Section 6. 

            (2) The President of every Water Users Association in a 

Distributory Committee area, shall be the member of such Distributory 

Committee ex-officio, and all such members shall constitute the general 

body of such Distributory Committee. 

         8.  (1) There shall be a managing committee for every Distributory        

Committee. 

   (2) The Collector shall make arrangements for the election of 

the President of the managing committee of the Distributory Committee 

by direct election from among its members, by the method of secret 

ballot, in such manner as may be prescribed. 

 

 

 
 

Delineation of 

Distributory 

Committee area 

 

 

 

Constitution of 

Distributory 

Committee 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constitution of 

managing committee 

of Distributory 

Committee and 

election of its 

President and 

members 



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 (3)The Collector shall also make arrangements for the election 

of the members of the managing committee of the Distributory 

Committee from among the members of such Distributory Committee, 

who shall not be more than five, in such manner as may be prescribed: 

Provided that the Government may, for the reasons to be 

recorded in writing, from time to time, postpone the election. 

            (4) If, at an election held under sub-section (2) or (3), the 

President or the members of the managing committee are not elected, 

fresh election shall be held in the same manner as specified in sub- 

section (2) or (3), as the case may be.  

            (5) The term of office of the President and the members of the 

managing committee shall, if not recalled under section 13, be 

coterminous with the term of members of the general body specified in 

sub-section (2) of section 7. 

(6) The managing committee shall exercise the powers and 

perform the functions of the Distributory Committee. 

              9.  The Government may, in such manner as may be 

prescribed, delineate every command area or part thereof, of a Major 

Irrigation System, and declare it to be a Project area for the purposes of 

this Act. 

             10. (1) There shall be a Project Committee called by its distinct 

name for every Project Area declared under Section 9. 

                   (2) The President of every Distributory Committee in the 

Project area shall be the member of such Project Committee, ex-officio, 

and all such members shall constitute the general body for such Project 

Committee. 

               11. (1) There shall be a managing committee for every Project 

Committee. 

       (2)  The Collector shall make arrangements for the election 

of the Chairman of the managing committee of the Project Committee 

by direct election from among its members, by the method of secret 

ballot, in such manner as may be prescribed. 

                 (3) The Collector shall also make arrangements for the 

election of the members of the managing committee of the Project 

Committee from among the members of such Project Committee, who 

shall not be more than nine, in such manner as may be prescribed. 

 

Provided that the Government may, for the reasons to be 

recorded in writing, from time to time, postpone the election.

 

 

 

 
Delineation of 

Project area 

 

 

 

 
Constitution of 

Project   

Committee 

 

 

 

 
Constitution of 

managing committee 

of Project Committee 

and election of its 

chairman members 



10  

(4) If, at an election held under sub-section (2) or (3), the 

President or the Members of the managing committee are not elected, 

fresh election shall be held in the same manner as specified in sub- 

section (2) or (3), as the case may be. 

         (5) The term of office of the Chairman and the members of the 

managing committee shall, if not recalled under section 13, be 

coterminous with the term of members of the general body specified in 

sub-section (2) of section 10. 

         (6) The managing committee shall exercise the powers and 

perform the functions of the Project Committee. 

           12. (1) The Government may, by notification, constitute an 

Apex Committee with a Chairman and such number of members as 

may be prescribed. 

(2) The Apex Committee constituted under sub-

section (1) may exercise such powers and functions as may be 

prescribed so as to lay down the policies and guidelines for 

implementation of the provisions of this Act. 

 

            13. (1) A motion for recall of a Chairman or a President or 

Member, as the case may be, of the managing committee of any 

farmers organisation may be made by giving a notice in writing in 

such form as may be prescribed, signed by not less than one-third of 

the total number of members of such farmers organisation, who are 

entitled to vote. 

 

Provided that no notice of motion under this section shall be 

made within one year of the date of assumption of office by any person 

against whom the motion is sought to be moved. 

 

(2) If the motion is carried with the support of majority of 

the members present and voting at a meeting of the general body 

specially convened for the purpose, the Collector or the Government, 

as the case may be, shall by order, remove such person from office and 

the resulting vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as a casual 

vacancy. 

         14. The managing committee may constitute such number of sub 

- committees, from amongst the members of the farmers organisation 

concerned, as may be necessary to carry out all or any of the functions 

vested in it under this Act. 

          15. Every farmers organisation referred to in clause (i) of 

section 2 shall be a body corporate with a distinct name having 

perpetual succession and a common seal and, subject to the provisions 

of this Act, vested with the capacity of entering into contracts and of 

doing  all  things  necessary,  proper or expedient, for the purpose for 

 

 

 

Constitution of Apex 

Committee 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Procedure for recall 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Constitution of Sub- 

committee in farmers 

organisation 

 
 

 

Farmers 

organisation to be a 

body corporate 



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which it is constituted and it shall sue or be sued in its corporate name 

represented by the Chairman or President, as the case may be. 
 

Provided that no farmers organisation shall have the power to 

alienate in any manner, any property vested in it. 

 

          16. The Government may, in the interest of farmers organisation 

in any command area, by notification and in accordance with the rules 

made in this behalf,-- 

 

(a) form a new farmers organisation, by separating the area 

from any existing farmers organisation; or 

(b) increase the area of any farmers organisation; or 

(c) diminish the area of any farmers organisation; or 

(d) alter the boundaries of any farmers organisation; or 

(e) cancel a notification issued under this section for rectifying 

any mistake; 

 

Provided that no such separation, increase, diminition, alteration 

or cancellation, as the case may be, shall be effected unless a 

reasonable opportunity is given to the farmer’s organisation likely to 

be affected. 

            17. (1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as or for 

being a Chairman or President or a Member of any managing 

committee, if- 

(a) he is a village servant or officer or servant of the 

Government of India or of any State Government or of any local 

authority or an employee of any institution receiving aid from the 

funds of the Government. 

(b) he has been convicted by a criminal court for any offence 

involving moral turpitude committed under any law for the time 

being in force; 

           (c) he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a 

competent court. 

 

 

 

Changes in farmers 

organisation 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Disqualification 

of candidates or 

members 

             (d) he is an applicant to be adjudicated as an insolvent or an 
undischarged insolvent; or 

              (e)  he is a defaulter of land revenue or water charges or fees 

payable either to the Government or to the farmers organisation; 

    (f) he is interested in a subsisting contract made with, or any 

work being done in the area of the concerned farmers organisation, for 

the Village Panchayat or Panchayat Union or Town Panchayat or 

Municipality or Municipal Corporation or State or Central Government 

or farmers organisation; 



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Provided that a person shall not be deemed to have any interest 

in such contract or work by reason only of his having share or interest 

in- 

(i) a company as a mere share holder, but not as a director; 

or 

(ii) any lease, sale or purchase of immovable property or 

any agreement for the same; or 

(iii) any agreement for the loan of money or any security for 

the payment of money only; or 

(iv) any newspaper, in which any advertisement relating to 

the affairs of the farmers organisation is inserted. 

 

Explanation:- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that 

where a contract is fully performed it shall not be deemed to be 

subsisting merely on the ground that the Village Panchayat, Panchayat 

Union, Town Panchayat, Municipality, Municipal Corporation, 

Farmers Organisation, State or Central Government, as the case may 

be, has not performed its part of the contractual obligations. 

 

(2) A Chairman or President or Member of any managing 

committee of a farmers organisation shall also become disqualified to 

continue in office and shall cease to hold office forthwith, if he- 

(a) is convicted in a criminal case involving moral  

     turpitude; or 

(b) absents for three consecutive meetings without     

     reasonable cause; 

Provided that such disqualification under item (b) shall not 

apply in the case of women who are in an advanced stage of 

pregnancy and for a period of three months after delivery. 

 

(3) A member of the Water User Association shall cease to be a 

member or a Chairman or a President, as the case may be, of a 

managing committee and shall become disqualified to continue in 

office, if he ceases to be a water user. 
 

          (18) (1) A member of a managing committee of any farmers 

organisation may resign his office by a letter, sent by registered post 

or tendered in person, to the Chairman or President of the managing 

committee concerned. 
 

(2) The President of the managing committee of a Water Users 

Association may resign his office by a letter, sent by registered post or 

tendered in person, to the President of the Distributory Committee 

concerned. 
 

(3) The President of the managing committee of a Distributory 

Committee may resign his office by a letter, sent by registered post or 

tendered in person, to the Chairman of the Project Committee 

concerned. 

 
Resignation 



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(4) The Chairman of the managing committee of a Project 

Committee may resign his office by a letter, sent by registered post or 

tendered in person, to the Chairman of the Apex Committee. 
 

(5) Any resignation under this section shall take effect from the 

date of acceptance or on the expiry of thirty days from the date of its 

receipt, whichever is earlier. 

            19. (1) A vacancy arising in any managing committee, either 

due to disqualification under sub-section (2) or (3) of section 17 or due 

to death or resignation or any other reason, such vacancy shall be filled 

up, by nomination, till the vacancy is filled up by election under sub- 

section (2), in the following manner:- 
 

             (a) A vacancy in the Water Users Association shall be filled by 

the managing committee of the Distributory Committee, in such 

manner as may be prescribed; 

             (b) A vacancy in the Distributory Committee shall be filled by 

the managing committee of the Project Committee, in such manner as 

may be prescribed; and 

              (c) A vacancy in the Project Committee shall be filled by the 

Apex Committee, in such manner as may be prescribed. 

(2) The Collector shall take necessary steps to conduct 

elections to fill up any vacancy caused within a period of one month 

from the date of occurrence of such vacancy. 

(3) The term of office of a member or a President or a 

Chairman of the farmers organisation, elected under sub-section (2), 

shall expire at the time at which it would have expired, if he had been 

elected at the ordinary election. 

               20. No act or proceedings of any managing committee shall be 

invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy in, or defect in 

the constitution of, the said managing committee. 

              21. The meetings of the farmers organisation and the managing 

committee thereof shall be at such intervals, by such procedure, and 

with such quorum, as may be prescribed. 

 

CHAPTER III 

FUNCTIONS OF FARMERS ORGANISATION. 

 

                  22. The Water Users Association shall perform the following 

functions, namely:- 
 

(a) to prepare and implement an operational plan and a 

Rotational Water Supply for each irrigation season, 

consistent with the operational plan, prepared by the 

Distributory Committee and the Project Committee, 

and  based  upon  the   entitlement,   area,  soil and 

 

 

 

 
Filling up of 

vacancies 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Acts not to be 

invalidated by 

vacancy etc. 

 
 

 Meetings 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Functions of Water 

Users’ Association 



14  

Distributory 

cropping pattern as approved by the managing committee or 

Distributory Committee, or as the case may be, of the Project 

Committee. 

(b)  to prepare a plan for the maintenance of irrigation system in 

the area of its operation at the end of each crop season and 

carry out the maintenance works of both distributory 

system, water courses and field drains in its area of 

operation with the funds of the Water Users Association, from 

time to time; 

(c)   to   regulate  the  use  of  water  among  the  various  sluices  

       under   its  area  of  operation  according  to  the  Rotational            

       Water Supply; 

(d)   to promote economy in the use of water allocated; 

(e)   to assist the authorities of the Revenue Department of the  

       Government, in the preparation of demand and collection of 

  water charges; 

(f)   to maintain a register of water  users,  as  published  by  the  

       Revenue Department of the Government; 

(g)   to  prepare  and  maintain  an  inventory  of  the  irrigation     

        system within the area of operation; 

(h)   to monitor flow of water for irrigation; 

(i)  to resolve the disputes, if any, between the members  of      

 the Water Users Association in its area of operation; 

(j)   to raise resources; 

(k) to maintain accounts; 

(l) to cause annual audit of its accounts; 

(m) to assist in the conduct of elections to the managing committee. 

(n) to maintain such other records, as may be prescribed; 

(o) to abide by the decisions of the Distributory Committee and 

Project Committee; 

(p) to conduct general body meetings, in such manner as may be 

prescribed; 

(q) to encourage avenue for plantation on canal and tank 

poramboke, and to protect and maintain such plantations; 

(r) to conduct regular water budgeting and also to conduct 

periodical social audit, as may be prescribed; and 

(s) to remove the encroachments on canal, drains and tank poramboke 

in the area of jurisdiction of the Water Users Association. 
 

23. The Distributory Committee shall perform the following 

functions, namely:- 
Functions of

 

Committee. 



15  

 

 (a) to prepare an operational plan based on its entitlement, area, 

soil, cropping pattern at the beginning of each irrigation season,  

consistent with the operational plan prepared by the Project Committee. 

           (b) to prepare a plan for the maintenance of branch canals, 

distributories and medium drains within its area of operation as the end 

of each crop season and execute the maintenance works with its funds, 

from time to time; 
 

 (c)   to regulate the use of water among the various Water Users 

Associations under its area of operation; 

 (d) to resolve disputes, if any, between the Water Users 

Associations in its area of operation; 

 (e)  to maintain a register of Water Users Association in its area 

of operation; 

(f) to maintain an inventory of the irrigation system in the area 

of its operation, including drains; 

(g) to promote economy in the use of water allocated; 

(h) to maintain accounts; 

(i) to cause annual audit of its accounts; 

(j) to maintain such other records, as may be prescribed; 

(k) to monitor the flow of water for irrigation; 

(l) to conduct general body meetings, as may be prescribed; 

(m) to abide by the decisions of the Project Committee; 

(n) to cause regular water budgeting and also the periodical 

social audit, as may be prescribed; 

(o) to assist in the conduct of elections to the managing 

committee 

(p) to encourage avenue for plantations in its area of 

operation; 

and 

             (q)  to remove the encroachments on canal, drains and tank 

poramboke in the area of jurisdiction of the Distributory Committee. 

 

 

 

          24. The Project Committee shall perform the following 

functions, namely:- 

 

(a) to approve an operational plan, based on its entitlement, area, 

soil cropping pattern, as prepared by the competent authority, in 

respect  of  the  entire  project  area  at  the beginning of each irrigation 

season;

 

Functions of 

Project 

Committee 

 



16  

 (b) to approve a plan for the maintenance of irrigation system, 

including the major drains, within its area of operation at the end of 

each crop seasons  and execute the maintenance works with the fund of 

the Project Committee 

(c) to maintain a list of the Distributory Committees and Water 

Users Associations in its area of operation; 

 (d) to maintain an inventory of the branch canals, distributories 

and drainage systems in its area of operation; 

             (e) to resolve disputes if any, between the Distributory 

Committees; 

    (f)  to promote economy in the use of water; 

           (g)  to maintain accounts; 

           (h)  to cause annual audit of its accounts; 

           (i)   to maintain such other records, as may be prescribed; 

           (j)   to conduct general body meetings, as may be prescribed; 

(k) to cause regular water budgeting and also the periodical 

social audit, as may be prescribed. 

(l) To encourage avenue for plantations in its area of 

operation; and 

         (m) To remove the encroachments on canal, drains and tank 

poramboke in the area of jurisdiction of the Project Committee. 

 

          25.  A farmers organisation may, for carrying out the purposes of 

this Act, and for achieving the objects of such organisation and 

performing its functions, levy and collect such fees not exceeding five 

hundred rupees per hectare per year from every water user, as may be 

prescribed, from time to time. 

          26. (1) The Government may, by notification, appoint such 

officer of the Water Resources Organisation, as they consider necessary, 

to be the competent authority to every farmers organisation, for the 

purposes of this Act. 
 

(2) The competent authority appointed under sub-section (1) shall 

assist the respective farmers organisation in the implementation and 

execution of all decisions taken by such farmers organisation. 
 

(3) Every farmers organisation shall extend such co-operation or 

assistance, as may be required by the competent authority, for carrying 

out the purposes of this Act. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Power to levy and  

collect fees 

 

 

 

 

Appointment 

of competent 

authority and his 

functions 



17  

 

CHAPTER IV 

FUNDS OF FARMERS ORGANISATION 

 

27. There  shall be a Fund for every farmers organisation, which 

shall comprise of the following sources, namely:- 

 

(1) grants received from the Government as a share of the water 

charges collected in the area of operation of the farmers organisation, 

at such rates as may be prescribed. 

 

(2) such other funds as may be granted by the State and Central 

Government for the development of the area of operation; 

 

(3) resources raised from any financing agency for undertaking 

any economic development activities in its area of operation; 

 

(4) such income from the properties and assets attached to the 

irrigation system within its area of operation, as may be granted by the 

Government; 

 

(5) fees collected under section 25; 

(6) amounts received from any other source; 

 

 28. (1) The farmers organisation shall keep its Fund in a 

Nationalised Bank or a Co-operative Bank or any Agricultural Co-

operative Society. 

 

            (2) The Fund shall be applied towards meeting of the 

expenses incurred by the managing committee of the concerned farmers 

organisation in the administration of this Act and for no other purpose. 

 29. (1)The managing committee of the farmers organisation 

shall maintain a sinking fund for the repayment of moneys borrowed 

and shall pay every year into the sinking fund such sum as may be 

sufficient for repayment, within the period fixed, of all moneys so 

borrowed. 

       (2)   The sinking fund or any part thereof shall be applied in 

or towards, the discharge of the loan for which such fund was created, 

and until such loan is wholly discharged, it shall not be applied for any 

other purpose. 

            30. Every farmers organisation shall get its accounts audited 

annually in such manner and by such auditors, as may be prescribed. 

 

 31. The managing committee of a farmers organisation shall 

prepare in such form in every financial year a budget in respect of next 

financial  year,  showing  the  estimated  receipts and expenditure of 

 

 

 

Fund of Farmers 

Organisation 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposit and 

administration of the 

Fund. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Sinking Fund 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Audit 

 

 

 
Budget. 



18  

such committee and shall place before its general body for its 

approval in such manner, as may be prescribed. 
 

CHAPTER V 

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 

 32. Whoever, without any lawful authority, does any of the 

following acts, namely:- 
 

(a) damages, alters, enlarges, or obstructs any irrigation system; 

or 

(b) interferes with, increases, or diminishes the water supply in, 

or the flow of water from, through, over or under any 

irrigation system; or 

 

 

Offences and 

penalties. 

   (c) being responsible for the maintenance of the irrigation system, 

neglects to take proper precautions for the prevention of wastage of the 

water thereof or interferes with the authorised distribution of water 

there from or uses water in an unauthorised manner, or in such manner 

as to cause damage to the adjacent land; or 

 (d) corrupts or fouls, water of any irrigation system so as to 

render it less fit for the purposes for which it is ordinarily used; or 

 (e) obstructs or removes any level marks or water gauge or any    

 other mark or sign fixed by the authority of a public servant; or 

 (f) opens, shuts, or obstructs or attempts to open, shut or obstruct 

any sluice or outlet or any other similar contravence in any irrigation 

system; or 

(g) violates the Rotational Water Supply or water distribution 

and regulation made by the Water Users Association or Distributory 

Committee or the Project Committee, shall, on conviction, be punished 

with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with 

fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both. 

33. No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act, 

except on complaint made by the competent authority or the President 

or Chairman, as the case may be , of the managing committee of any 

farmers organisation. 

   34. Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent any person from 

being prosecuted and punished under any other law for the time being in 

force for any act or omission made punishable by or under this Act; 

 

Provided that no person shall be prosecuted and punished for the 

same offence more than once. 

Cognizance of 

offences. 

 

 

 
Punishment 

under other laws 

not barred. 



19  

 35. (1) Any offence punishable under section 32 may, either before 

or after making the complaint under section 33, be compounded by the 

competent authority or the President or the Chairman, as the case may 

be, of the managing committee of a farmers organisation, on payment, 

for credit to the Government, of such sum as the competent authority or 

the Chairman or the President, as the case may be, specify; 

 

Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the 

maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under this Act for 

the offence so compounded. 

 

(2)Where an offence has been compounded under sub-section 

(1), no proceeding or further proceeding, as the case may be, shall be 

taken against the offender, in respect of the offence so compounded, 

and the offender if in custody, shall be discharged forthwith. 

 

(3) No offence punishable under this Act shall be 

compounded except as provided by this section. 

 
 

CHAPTER VI 

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. 

 

   36. (1) Any dispute or difference touching the constitution, 

management, powers or functions of a farmers organisation arising 

between members, shall be determined by the managing committee of 

such farmers organisation. 

 

(2) Any such dispute or difference arising between a member 

and the managing committee of a Water Users Association or between 

two or more Water Users Associations shall be determined by the 

managing committee of the Distributory Committee. 

 

(3) Any such dispute or difference arising between a member 

and the managing committee of a Distributory Committee or between 

two or more Distributory Committees shall be determined by the 

managing committee of the Project Committee. 

 

(4) Any such dispute or difference arising between a member 

and managing committee of a Project Committee or between two or 

more Project Committees, shall be determined by the Apex 

Committee, whose decision shall be final. 

 

(5) Every dispute or difference under this section shall be 

disposed of within fifteen days from the date of reference of the 

dispute or difference. 

Compounding of offences 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Settlement of 

disputes 



20  

  37. (1) Any party to a dispute or difference aggrieved by any 

decision made or order passed by the managing committee of a Water 

Users Association may appeal to the managing committee of the 

Distributory Committee, whose decision thereon shall be final. 

 

(2) Any party to a dispute or difference aggrieved by any 

decision made or order passed by the managing committee of a 

Distributory Committee may appeal to the managing committee of the 

Project Committee, whose decision thereon shall be final. 

 

(3) Any party to a dispute or difference aggrieved by any 

decision made or order passed by the managing committee of a Project 

Committee may appeal to the Apex Committee, whose decision 

thereon shall be final. 

 

(4) Any appeal under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub 

section (3) shall be preferred within fifteen days of communication of 

the decision or the order to the person aggrieved. 

 

(5) Every appeal under this section shall be disposed of within 

fifteen days from the date of filing of the appeal. 

 

CHAPTER VII 

MISCELLANEOUS 

  

  38. (1) Every farmers organisation shall keep at its office, the 

following accounts, records and documents, namely :- 

 

(a) an up-to-date copy of this Act; 

(b)  a map of the area of operation of the farmers organisation 

along with the map of the structures and distributory networks 

prepared in consultation with the Water Resources Organisation; 

 

(c) a statement of the assets and liabilities; 

(d) minutes book; 

(e) books of account showing receipts and payments; 

 (f)       books of account of all purchases and sales of goods  

made by the farmers organisation; 

(g) register of measurement books, level field books, 

works orders and the like; 

(h)      copies of audit reports and enquiry reports; 

 (i)      such other accounts, records and documents as may be 

   prescribed, from time to time; 
 

(2) The books of accounts and other records shall be open for 

information to the members of the respective farmers organisation. 

Appeals 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Records 



21  

 39. Without prejudice to any other mode of recovery which is 

being taken or may be taken under this Act or any other law for the 

time being in force, any moneys due to farmers organisation may be 

recovered as if it were an arrears of land revenue and for the purposes 

of such recovery, the competent authority shall have the powers of a 

Collector under the Tamil Nadu Revenue Recovery Act, 1864. 

 

 40. The meeting of the farmers organisation and the managing 

committee thereof, its procedure, intervals, presidency and quorum 

thereof shall be such as may be prescribed. 

 

  41. (1) The Government may, by notification, appoint a 

Commissioner to exercise general control and superintendence over the 

competent authorities and the Collectors in performance of their 

functions under this Act or the rules made there under. 

 

        (2) The powers to be exercised and the functions to be 

performed by the Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed. 

 

  42.   (1) Any farmers association already formed and registered 

under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 for the purpose 

of carrying out the functions of participatory Irrigation Management 

prior to the coming into force of this Act and functioning in any area 

declared to be a Water Users Association Area under section 3 shall, as 

soon as the Managing Committee of the Water Users Association is 

constituted in accordance with section 5 in such area, cease to exist: 

 

Provided that where any such farmers association which has 

entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with any authority of 

the Water Resources Organisation before coming into force of this Act 

shall continue to exercise the powers and functions of a Water Users 

Association in the respective area from the date of coming into force of 

this Act and till the constitution of the managing committee of the 

Water Users Association in accordance with this Act. 

 

(2) The Government may, by notification, appoint officers from 

the Water Resources Organisation to exercise the powers and perform 

the functions of a farmers organisation and the managing committee 

thereof, till such time such farmers organisation is duly constituted or 

reconstituted and such managing committee assumes office under the 

provisions of this Act. 

 43. All permissions, orders, decisions, notices and other 

documents of the farmers organisation shall be authenticated by the 

signature of the Chairman or President of such farmers organisation or 

any other member of the managing committee as may be specifically 

authorised by such managing committee in writing in this behalf. 

Recovery of moneys 

due to farmers 

organisation as arrears 

of land revenue. 

 

 

 

 

 
Meetings 

 

 

 

Appointment of 

Commissioner. 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Merger of already 

formed and registered 

farmers associations 

and transitional 

arrangements. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Authentication of 

orders and documents 

of the farmers 

organisation. 



22  

 44. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against 

any person for anything which is, in good faith done or intended to be 

done in pursuance of this Act or any rule or order made thereunder. 
 

 45.  If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this 

Act, the Government may, by order published in the Tamil Nadu 

Government Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with the 

provisions of this Act, as appear to them to be necessary or expedient 

for removing the difficulty. 
 

Provided that no order shall be made after the expiry of a 

period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. 

 

 46. (1) The Government may, in the public interest, by order, direct 

the competent authority to make an enquiry or to take appropriate 

proceedings under this Act in any case specified in the order, and the 

competent authority shall report to the Government the result of the 

enquiry made or the proceedings taken by him within such period as 

may be prescribed. 

 

(2) The Government may issue such orders and directions of a 

general character as they may consider necessary in respect of any 

matter relating to the powers and duties of the competent authority or 

the farmers organisation and thereupon the competent authority or the 

farmers organisation shall give effect to such orders and directions. 

 

 47. The Commissioner may, either on his own motion or on 

application made, call for and examine the records of any farmers 

organisation or as the case may be , the records of the Apex Committee 

in respect of any decision, order, or other proceedings made under this 

Act, to satisfy himself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of any 

such decision or order, or as to the regularity of such proceedings and if, 

in any case, it appears to the Commissioner that such decision, order or 

proceedings should be modified, annulled, reversed or remitted for 

reconsideration, he may pass orders accordingly. 

 

Provided that the Commissioner shall not pass any order 

prejudicial to any person unless he has been given an opportunity of 

making a representation. 

  48. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in 

derogation of any other law for the time being in force. 

 

  49. Nothing contained in this Act shall affect the rights or 

properties vested in a Village Panchayat, Panchayat Union, Town 

Panchayat, Municipality or Municipal Corporation under any law for 

the time being in force. 

Protection of action 

taken in good faith 

 

 

Power to remove 

difficulties 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Power of Government 

to give directions 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revision by 

Commissioner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Operation of other 

laws not affected. 

 

Savings



23  

  50. (1) The Government may make rules to carry out all or any 

of the purposes of this Act. 
 

(2) Every rule or order made under this Act shall, as soon as 

possible, after it is made, be placed on the Table of the Legislative 

Assembly and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so 

placed or the next session, the Assembly makes any modification in 

any such rule or order, or the Assembly decides that the rule or order 

should not be made, the rule or order shall thereafter have effect only 

in such modified form or be of no effect, 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 or 

order. 

 
 

(By order of the Governor) 

 
 

K. PARTHASARATHY, 

Secretary to Government, 

Law Department. 

Power to make 

rules.