(1) There shall be a Managing Committee for every Distributary Level Association (DLA) consisting of such number of members, including Chairperson and Directors as may be prescribed. Such Association shall have a Secretary, having prescribed qualifications; and the pay and allowances of such person shall be fixed by the respective Water Users Association, in the prescribed manner.
(2) The Canal Officer, duly empowered in this behalf, shall make arrangements for the election of Directors of the Managing Committee of Distributary Minor Level Association by election from amongst members of General Body of Minor Level Association, within such time and in such manner, as may be prescribed.
(3) Adequate representation shall be given on the Managing Committee of the Distributary Level Association to the Water Users Associations from Head, Middle and Tail reaches of the area of operation of Distributary Level Association and women Directors in the prescribed manner.
(4) Such Canal Officer shall also make arrangements for the election of the Chairperson of the Distributary Level Association in the manner as may be prescribed. The Directors of Managing Committee shall elect the Chairperson in the first meeting of the Managing Committee convened and presided over by such Canal Officer, pending election of the Chairperson.
(5) The tenure of the post of the Chairperson, and its rotation amongst the Managing Committee Directors representing Head, Middle and Tail reaches of the area of operation of a Distributary Level Association and women Directors shall be such as may be prescribed.
(6) The Canal Officer may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, postpone the election upto one year.
(7) The Members of the Managing Committee shall, unless recalled earlier under section 19, hold office for a period of six years from the date of the constitution of the said Managing Committee.
(8) The Managing Committee shall exercise such powers, discharge such duties and perform such functions of the Distributary Level Association as may be provided in this Act and as prescribed.
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Canal Officer, duly empowered in this behalf pending election and constitution of Managing Committee may, appoint an Ad-hoc Management Committee in the prescribed manner.