Section 25 in The Goa Command Area Development Act, 1997
25. Settlement of disputes regarding distribution of water.
(1)Whenever a dispute arises between two or more land-holders in regard to their natural rights or liabilities in respect of the use or maintenance of field channel, any such land-holder may apply in writing to the Water Distribution Co-operative Society stating the matter in dispute.(2)On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Water Distribution Co-operative Society shall give notice to the other persons interested to appear before it on a day to be specified in such notice, and shall proceed to enquire into such matter and after the enquiry, the Water Distribution Co-operative Society may try to bring about a compromise between the parties and if such a compromise cannot be brought, it shall, after hearing the parties concerned, pass such an order as it deems fit:Provided that if any dispute arises between the land holders and the Water Distribution Co-operative Society regarding the sharing of costs to be borne by one or more land-holders, any such land-holder may, after paying the cost apportioned to him by the Water Distribution Co-operative Society, prefer an appeal to the Canal Officer within seven days of such payment, and the Canal Officer shall, after giving an opportunity to the aggrieved land-holders, decide the pro-rata sharing of expenses between the land-holders, and his decision thereon shall be final and binding on all the land-holders.(3)The Canal Officer within whose jurisdiction the pipe-outlet is situated, may suo-moto or on an application made in this behalf by an aggrieved person within fifteen days from the date of the order passed by the concerned Water Distribution Co-operative Societies under sub-section (2), revise such order:Provided that where the Water Distribution Co-operative Society does not pass an order within fifteen days from the date of receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Canal Officer may himself pass an order on the matter in dispute.Chapter - VIII
