(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958 (Bom. III of 1959) (hereinafter in this section referred to as "the said Act"), it shall be the duty of every village panchayat established under the said Act and having jurisdiction over the area in which any embankment or other works included in any scheme, or any parts thereof are situated to keep vigil, supervise, maintain and repair such embankment or works or parts thereof, as the case may be, and to comply with such directions as may be issued in this behalf, from time to time, by the Khar Lands Development Officer executing the scheme or by the State Government. For this purpose, the village panchayat shall take or cause to be taken such steps and exercise such powers, in addition to the powers conferred by section 16, as may, in its opinion, be reasonably necessary, for carrying out its duty or for securing compliance with any directions issued to it.
(2) The village panchayat shall be entitled to payment from the State Government for expenditure incurred by it in carrying out its duty, and carrying out vigil and normal maintenance and repairs and for securing compliance with the directions issued to it, the amount of which shall be determined by the Khar Lands Development Officer concerned or any other officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf.
(3) Where a village panchayat makes a default in the performance of any of the duties imposed by or under this section, it shall be lawful for the Collector or any officer authorised by the State Government to take suitable action against the village panchayat under the said Act, as if a default in the performance of its duties under the said Act had been made.