Offences under the Act

Section 84 of the Goa Irrigation Act, 1973 deals with offences under the Act. Whoever voluntarily and without proper authority,- (i) damages, alters, enlarges or obstructs any canal;

Whoever voluntarily and without proper authority,- (i) damages, alters, enlarges or obstructs any canal;

(ii) interferes with, increases or diminishes the supply of water in, or the flow of water from, through, over or under any canal, or by means raises or lowers the level of the water in any canal;

(iii) opens, shuts or obstructs or attempts to open, shut or obstruct any sluice or outlet or any other similar contrivance in any canal;

(iv) corrupts or fouls the water of any canal so as to render it less fit for the purposes for which it is ordinarily used;

(v) destroys, defaces or moves any land mark or level mark or water gauge fixed under the authority of a public servant;

(vi) destroys, tampers with or removes any apparatus, or part of any apparatus for controlling, regulating or measuring the flow of water in any canal;

(vii) causes any animal or vehicle to pass on or across any of the works, banks or canals or channels of a canal contrary to the rules made under this Act after he has been required to desist therefrom;

(viii) causes or knowingly or wilfully permits cattle to graze upon any canal or floodembankment, or causes, or knowingly and wilfully permits cattle to be teathered upon any such canal or embankment or roots up any grass or other vegetation growing on any such canal or embankment or removes, cuts or in any way injures, or causes to be removed, cut or otherwise injures any tree, bush, grass or hedge intended for protection of such canal or embankment;

(ix) puts up a dam across or otherwise obstructs the free course of water the right to which vests in the Government;

(x) being responsible for the maintenance of any water-course, or using the water- -course, neglects to take proper precautions necessary for the prevention of waste of the water thereof, or interferes with the authorised distribution of the water therefrom or uses such water in an unauthorised manner;

(xi) contravenes any provision of this Act;

(xii) contravenes any rule made under this Act, the contravention whereof is declared in the rules to be an offence punishable under this section; 4[shall, on conviction, be punished for the offences under clauses (vi), (ix) and (x) with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees and for offences under any other clause with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees:] 5[Provided that for a second or subsequent offence under clause (vii) or clause (viii), such fine shall not be less than one thousand rupees, and under other clause, such fine shall not be less than ten thousand rupees:

Provided further that in case of continuing offence, a daily fine not exceeding five hundred rupees for every day during the period of the continuance of such offence shall also be imposed.].

Section 84, The Goa Irrigation Act, 1973 (Act 18 of 1973).