(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 Cooperative 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 -17- 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 Cooperative 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 Cooperative 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