Section 35A(5) in Bihar Private Irrigation Works Act, 1922
(5)Upon the completion of the construction, alteration, extension or repair of the irrigation work, the Collector may make an order that the maintenance of such work shall, as from the date of the order, vest in any of the following village agencies, namely. -(i)a panchayat of not less than five nor more than nine persons (including one person to represent the interests of the area which is, or is likely to be, irrigated from, the irrigation work) to be selected by him from those interested in the maintenance of the said work;(ii)a co-operative society whose membership is confined to the village or villages in which the area irrigated or likely to be irrigated is situated;(iii)a village panchayat or similar body constituted under any law for the time being in force and having jurisdiction over the area irrigated or likely to be irrigated from the said work or, if there is more than one village panchayat or similar body having jurisdiction over such area, to the village panchayat or similar body having jurisdiction over the major portion of the area; or(iv)a village headman:Provided that if the maintenance of the work is vested in any of the agencies specified in clauses (ii) and (iii), the Collector shall nominate a person to represent the landlords of the area which is, or is likely to be, irrigated from the said work and such person shall, for the purposes of this Chapter, be deemed to be a member of such agency.
