- Any ryot or ryots holding land under a landholder in the ayacut of an irrigation work, and(a)paying not less than one-fourth of the rent of the ayacut, or(b)holding not less than one-fourth of the extent of the ayacut, or(c)depositing such amount not exceeding two hundred rupees in the case of a major irrigation work and one hundred rupees in the case of a minor irrigation work as may be demanded by way of security,may apply for the issue of an order for the repair of the work if the work is in such a state of disrepair as materially to prejudice the irrigation of the lands depended upon it and if the landholder upon his or their application has refused or neglected to execute the necessary repairs. The application shall state in sufficient detail the facts on which the claim of the applicant or applicants is based on the general nature of the defects in the irrigation work. Any ryot or ryots intending to file an application under this section and any person or persons authorized by him or them shall have free access to the irrigation work concerned to enable him or them to state these facts and the general nature of these defects.Explanation. - Repairs shall not include petty works such as yearly clearance of supply and distribution channels or minor repairs which the ryots are by law or custom bound to carry out.
