16. Settlement of disputes concerning water-courses.
- Whenever a dispute arises between two or more persons in regard to their mutual rights or liabilities in respect of the use, construction or maintenance of a watercourse, of among joint owners of a water-course as to their respective shares of the expenses of constructing or maintaining such water-course or as to the amount severally to be contributed by them towards such expenses or as to failure on the part of any owner to contribute his share, any person interested in the matter of such dispute may apply in writing to the Irrigation Officer stating the matter in dispute.Such officer shall thereupon proceed to make a summary enquiry into the matter in the manner prescribed and pass orders thereon.Against the said order of the Irrigation Officer an appeal shall lie to the Collector within thirty days from the date of communication of the said order and the decision of the Collector in appeal shall be final unless set aside by a decree of a Civil Court.
