Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corpoation Act, 1997
No: 26 Dated: Apr, 28 1997
Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corpoation Act, 1997
ACT No. XXVI OF 1997
An Act to make special provisions for mobilization of resources for completion of some ongoing irrigation projects in time bound manner, for promotion and operation of the said irrigation projects in Vidarbha region and command area development and schemes for generation of hydro-electric energy to harness the water of Godavari and Tapi Rivers allocated to the State of Maharashtra under the Water Disputes Tribunal Award and other allied and incidental activities including flood control by establishing the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation.
Whereas it was expedient to make special provisions for promotion and operation of some irrigation projects in Vidarbha region, command area development and schemes for generation of hydro-electric energy to harness the water of Godavari and Tapi Rivers allocated to the State of Maharashtra under the Water Disputes Tribunal Award and other allied and incidental activities including flood control, by establishing the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation;
And Whereas it was considered necessary to immediately make a law for the same;
And Whereas both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session;
And Whereas the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action to make a law, for the purposes hereinafter appearing; and, therefore, promulgated the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation Ordinance, 1997, on the 12th March, 1997;
And Whereas it is expedient to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the State Legislature;
It is hereby enacted in the Forty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
CHAPTER I
Preliminary
1. Short title, extent and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation Act, 1997.
(2) It shall extend to the area of the Godavari and Tapi Rivers Valley in Vidarbha region of the State of Maharashtra, specified in the Schedule and such other area or areas, as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 12th March 1997.
2. Definitions. - In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Area of operation of the Corporation" means the area of the Godavari and Tapi Rivers Valley specified in the Schedule and any other area or areas to which the provisions of this Act are extended by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, under sub-section (2) of section 1;
(b) "Corporation" means the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation established under section 3;
(c) "Hydro-Electric Power Project" means and includes the planning, construction, maintenance, and management of Hydro-Electric Power Projects within the area of operation of the Corporation and shall also include such hydro-electric power projects as are assigned, handed over or transferred to the Corporation by the State Government;
(d) "Irrigation Department" means the Irrigation Department of the Government;
(e) "Irrigation Project" means the planning, construction, maintenance and management of-
(i) Major Irrigation Project having irrigable command area of more than 10,000 hectares,
(ii) Medium Irrigation Project having irrigable command area of more than 2,000 hectares and up to 10,000 hectares,
(iii) Minor Irrigation Project having irrigable command area of more than 250 hectares and up to 2,000 hectares.
and shall include command area development, flood control and other allied activities;
(f) "member" means a member of the Corporation designated as Director;
(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by the rules made under this Act;
(h) "Regulations" means the regulations made under this Act;
(i) "Schedule" means the schedule appended to this Act;
(j) "State Government" or "Government" means the Government of Maharashtra.