Draft Karnataka Irrigation (Amendment) Rules, 2025

(cid:315)(cid:175)ೇಷ (cid:170)ಾಜ(cid:205) ಪ(cid:294)(cid:206)(cid:144)ೆ ¨sÁUÀ– 4J 29 2025 07 1947) . 672 Part – IVA BENGALURU, WEDNESDAY, 29 OCTOBER, 2025 KARTHIKA 07, SHAKAVARSHA 1947) No. 672 GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA No: WRD 60 MMK 2025 Karnataka Government Secretariat 3rd Floor, Vikasa Soudha, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru, dated: 28.10.2025 NOTIFICATION The draft of the following rules further to amend the Karnataka Irrigation Rules, 1965 which the Government of Karnataka proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by section 71 of the Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965 (Karnataka Act 16 of 1965) is hereby published as received by sub-section (1) of section 71 of the said Act for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft will be taken into consideration after fifteen days from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. Any objection or suggestion which may be received by the State Government from any person with respect to the said draft before the expiry of the period specified above will be considered by the State Government. Objections and suggestions may be addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department, Room No.306, 3rd Floor, Vikasa Soudha, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedi, Bengaluru-560001. DRAFT RULES 1. Title and commencement.- (1) These rules may be called the Karnataka Irrigation (Amendment) Rules, 2025. (2) They shall come into force from the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Amendment of rule 2.- In the Karnataka Irrigation Rules, 1965 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 2,- (i) in clause (b), for the words “Public Works”, the words “Water Resources”, shall be substituted; and (1)2 (ii) in clause (g), for the words “Public Works”, the words “Water Resources”, shall be substituted. 3. Amendment of rule 17-A.- In the said rules, in rule 17-A, for the words “Assistant Engineer”, the words and figure “Irrigation Officer as notified under section 3 of the Act”, shall be substituted. 4. Insertion of new rules 17-C, 17-D, 17-E, 17-F, 17-G and 17-H.- In the said rules after rule 17-B, the new rules 17-C, 17-D, 17-E, 17-F, 17-G and 17-H shall be inserted, namely:- “17-C. Prescribed officer for the purposes of sections 28A, 28B and 28C of the Act.- The prescribed officer for purposes of sections 28A, 28B and 28C of the Act shall be the Irrigation Officer within the area of whose jurisdiction the irrigation work lies, or any officer authorised by him in this behalf.” 17-D. Application for permission or No Objection Certificate to extract and use groundwater within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel.- An application for permission to extract and use groundwater within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel, shall be in FORM 17. 17-E. Application for registration of borewell for beneficiary of the Ganga Kalyan Scheme.- An application for registration of borewell by a beneficiary of the Ganga Kalyan Scheme, shall be in FORM 18. 17-F. Grant of permit or No Objection Certificate to extract and use groundwater within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel for new user.- The Irrigation Officer or any officer authorized by him in this behalf, after conducting necessary inquiry on application received pursuant to Rule 17-D, shall issue a permit or No Objection Certificate in a format as prescribed in Form 19, within a period of sixty days from the date of receipt of the application: Provided that, in the grant or refusal of the permit, the Irrigation Officer or any officer authorized by him in this behalf shall have due regard to sub-section (6) of section 28A of the Act. 17-G. Application for registration/ renewal of existing ground water users within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel.- An application for registration/ renewal of existing ground water users within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel, shall be in Form 20. 17-H. Issuance of certificate of registration/ renewal to existing ground water users within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel.- The Irrigation Officer or any officer authorized by him in this behalf, after conducting necessary inquiry on an application received pursuant to Rule 17-F, shall issue a Certificate of Registration/ Renewal in a format as prescribed in Form 21, within a period of sixty days from the date of receipt of the application. Provided that, in the grant or refusal of Certificate of Registration/ Renewal, the Irrigation Officer or any officer authorized by him in this behalf shall have due regard to sub-section (5) of Section 28B of the Act.3 5. Amendment of rule 23B.- In the said rules in rule 23B for the words "fifty paise per each typed or written page or part thereto", the words "rupees two per each typed or written page or part thereto, subject to a minimum of rupees ten" shall be substituted. 6. Insertion of new rules 23-C and 23-D.- In the said rules, after rule 23B, the following new rules shall be inserted, namely:- “23-C. Procedure regarding enquiries other than formal or summary.- In an enquiry referred to in section 61J of the act, the evidence shall be recorded in full. The opinion or decision of the Irrigation Officer holding the enquiry shall be recorded invariably in his own handwriting irrespective of whether the evidence has been taken down in full or only a summary thereof has been recorded. It shall be read over and interpreted and admitted as correct. 23-D. Procedure for filing and hearing of appeals.- (1) Every memorandum of first appeal or second appeal shall be filed under clause (a), (b) or (c) of sub- section (1) of section 65 or clause (a), (b) or (c) of sub- section (3) of section 65 respectively, as the case may be, shall preferably be typed, or be in legible handwriting, and shall set forth concisely under distinct heads, the grounds of appeal without any argument or narrative and such grounds shall be numbered consecutively. (2) Each memorandum shall be accompanied by the certified copy of the order of the authority appealed against and other such documents, as may be required to support grounds of appeal mentioned in the memorandum. (3) When the appeal is presented after the expiry of the period of limitation as specified in sub-section (2) or (3) of section 65 the Act, the memorandum shall be accompanied by an application supported by an affidavit setting forth the facts on which appellant relies upon to satisfy the appellate authority, that he has sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the period of limitation. (4) The appellant shall submit three sets of the memorandum to the appellate authority, for official purposes. (5) On the date of hearing or any other day to which hearing may be adjourned, the parties or their authorised agents shall appear before the appellate authority. (6) The appellant shall not, except by the leave of the appellate authority, urge or be heard in support of any ground of appeal not set forth in the memorandum, but the appellate authority in deciding the appeal, need not confine itself to the grounds of appeal set forth in the memorandum or taken by leave of the appellate authority under this rule; Provided that, the appellate authority shall not rest its decision on any other grounds unless the party who may be affected thereby, has been given, the opportunity of being heard by the appellate authority. (7) No adjournment shall ordinarily be granted at any stage by the appellate authority, unless sufficient cause is shown and the reasons for grant of adjournment have been recorded in writing by the appellate authority. (8) The order of the appellate authority on the appeal shall be signed and dated by the appellate authority and shall be communicated to the parties concerned free of cost.” 7. Amendment of Form 14.-In the said rules, in FORM 14, under the heading ‘Conditions’ after serial Number 7, the following shall be inserted, namely:-4 “8. After an application has been sanctioned, the No Objection Certificate as obtained from the Irrigation Officer shall be submitted by the applicant to the concerned authorities of the ESCOMS for drawl of water to the irrigation work.” 8. insertion of new Forms 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21.- In the said rules after FORM 16, the new forms 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 shall be inserted namely:- FORM 17 (see rule 17-D) Application for permission by new user to extract and use groundwater within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel and for No Objection Certificate to Obtain Power Connection Application Number: To, The Irrigation Officer, …………………. …………………. (1) I,……………, am a resident of………………….. village…………… Taluk……………District……………, Karnataka make this application for permission to extract and use groundwater within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel and to obtain No Objection Certificate for Power Connection, for the purpose of irrigation of the land herein after described, subject to the provisions of the Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965, and any other law for the time being in force, relating to irrigation and the provisions contained in the instructions and the conditions specified at the end of this application, to which I agree.- (2) I am the owner/lease holder of the lands for the irrigation of which it is necessary to use water and for which permission is sought for. (3) The name and address of the applicant to whom the orders on the application should be communicated are……………………… Date: Signature or left-hand thumb Impression of the applicant [All the details of the application have to be filled up by the applicant.] Forwarded for sanction as follows: [………………………………]5 INSTRUCTIONS: (1) The application should be submitted in duplicate to the Irrigation Officer or to any officer authorized by him (Not below the rank of AEE) to receive such applications presented personally, or sent by speed post. (2) Until the permission is granted, the applicant shall not proceed with any activity connected with drilling or digging of a well or creation of an artificial pond. (3) When an order is passed, the duplicate form will be returned to the applicant endorsed with the Irrigation Officers’ orders. (4) No sanction will ordinarily be given for the irrigation of any land to any person other than (a) the sole occupant or all joint occupants, (b) the sole superior holders or all joint superior holders, (c) a person having the right to carry on irrigated cultivation of the land for the period of the sanction. (5) The grant of permission for the extraction and use of ground water is restricted to irrigation and domestic purposes and such other purposes as directed by the Government. (6) Permission may be refused for the extraction and use of ground water for the irrigation in the following cases: (i) if it is likely to adversely affect water availability of any drinking water sources in the vicinity. (ii) there are requirements to conserve the ground water, if the water table is found to be extremely low in the opinion of ground water Directorate. (iii)other conditions as prescribed in the Act under Section-28A (6). (7) The application is liable to be rejected, if, full particulars are not given in the application as detailed above, and in the event of failure to furnish any information which the Irrigation Officer requires in this connection. (8) Permission granted will be for a period of 5 years and renewal for further period subject to satisfactory fulfillment of conditions prescribed for grant of permission. +++6 FORM 18 (see rule 17-E) Application for registration of borewell by beneficiary of Ganga Kalyan Scheme.- Application Number: To, The Irrigation Officer, …………………. …………………. (1) I,……………, am a resident of………………….. village…………… Taluk …………… District……………, Karnataka make this application for registration of borewell, subject to the provisions of the Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965, and any other law for the time being in force, relating to irrigation and the provisions contained in the instructions and the conditions specified at the end of this application, to which I agree.- (2) I am a beneficiary of the Ganga Kalyan Scheme. (3) I am the Owner / Lease Holder of the lands for the irrigation of which, I have installed a borewell under the aforementioned Scheme. (4) The name and address of the applicant to whom the orders on the application should be communicated are……………………… Date: Signature or left-hand thumb Impression of the applicant [All the details of the application have to be filled up by the applicant.] Forwarded for sanction as follows: [………………………………] INSTRUCTIONS: (1) The application should be submitted in duplicate to the Irrigation Officer or to any officer authorized by him (Not below the rank of AEE) to receive such applications presented personally, or sent by speed post. (2) When an order is passed, the duplicate form will be returned to the applicant endorsed with the Irrigation Officers’ orders. (3) Incomplete application without required documents are liable to be rejected. (4) Where the Irrigation Officer approves the registration of borewell, an order in this regard, shall be passed by him within a period of sixty days from the date of receipt of the application. +++7 FORM 19 (see rule 17-F) Permission/No Objection Certificate to extract and use groundwater within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel for new user.- To, The Irrigation Officer, …………………. …………………. Application Number: Permission/NOC No: Date: Upon processing the application submitted by …………………[Name of the Applicant], dated…………..[date of the application] bearing Application Number……….[number of the application], permission has been granted to the applicant in accordance with the provisions of Section 28A of the Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965 read with Rule 17-D of the Karnataka Irrigation Rules, 1965. Name and Address of the Applicant: Purpose of extraction and use of groundwater: [Agricultural/Domestic/Industrial etc.] Permission granted for: Drilling of Borewell or Digging of a open well [Purpose to be specified] ……………………… ……………………… Office Stamp Issuing Authority Name: Signature: Designation: +++8 FORM 20 (see rule 17-G) Application for registration/renewal of existing ground water users within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel.- Application Number: Permission/NOC No. (for renewal): To, The Irrigation Officer, …………………. …………………. (1) I,……………, am a resident of………………….. village…………… Taluk……………District……………, Karnataka make this application seeking registration/renewal as an existing ground water user within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel for the purpose of irrigation of the land herein after described, subject to the provisions of the Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965, and any other law for the time being in force, relating to irrigation and the provisions contained in the instructions and the conditions specified at the end of this application, to which I agree.- Quantity of each year groundwater Total period Purpose of Source of the Lifting withdrawal (mcft) of use in extraction of ground water device used and hours of each year groundwater operation in a day [The description of [Number Whether for the source of of days to drinking water or ground water and be for irrigation or others (to be exact location to specified] specified). be specified by the Applicant] (2) The applicant is using the extracted water for the purpose of …………….. [Purpose of extraction of groundwater to be specified] and : [Fill whichever is applicable] (a) The location and extent of the irrigated area is ………………………………………………………………………[the location of the irrigated land and the extent is to be specified] and the crops grown in this land is………………………………[description of the crops cultivated is to be specified] (b) The approximate population served with drinking water by the applicant is ……. [Number of people to be specified, numerically] (if applicable).9 (c) This application has been preferred after the expiry of six months from the date of commencement of the Karnataka Irrigation (Amendment) Act, 2024, due to the reason of ………………………………………………………………………. (d) The name and address of the applicant to whom the orders on the application should be communicated are……………………… Date: Signature or left-hand thumb Impression of the applicant [All the details of the application have to be filled up by the applicant.] Forwarded for sanction as follows: [………………………………] INSTRUCTIONS: (1) The application should be submitted in duplicate to the Irrigation Officer or to any officer authorized by him (Not below the rank of AEE) to receive such applications presented personally, or sent by speed post. (2) When an order for registration/renewal is passed, the duplicate form will be returned to the applicant endorsed with the Irrigation Officers’ orders. (3) The applicant shall specify the reason for delay in preferring the application in Clause 3 of the application form. (4) Certificate of registration/renewal for the extraction and use of ground water is restricted to irrigation (including sprinkler and drip irrigation system) and domestic purposes and such other purposes as directed by the Government as long as it does not adversely affect the ground water table and/or drinking water sources in the vicinity. (5) A certificate of registration/renewal may be refused for the extraction and use of ground water for the irrigation in the following cases: (i) if it is likely to adversely affect water availability of any drinking water sources in the vicinity. (ii) there are requirements to conserve the ground water, if the water table is found to be extremely low in the opinion of Ground Water Directorate. (iii) other conditions as prescribed in the Act under Section-28B (5) of the act. +++R.N.I. No. KARBIL/2001/47147 POSTAL REGN. No. RNP/KA/BGS/2202/2017-19 Licensed to post without prepayment WPP No. 297 10 FORM 21 (see rule 17-H) Issuance of certificate of registration/renewal to existing ground water users within five hundred meters from the centre of the lift irrigation scheme and irrigation canal or channel.- The Irrigation Officer, …………………. …………………. Application Number: Certificate No: Date: CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION/RENEWAL Upon processing the application submitted by …………………[Name of the Applicant], dated…………..[date of the application] bearing Application Number……….[number of the application], PERMISSION has been GRANTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH Section 28B of the Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965 read with Rule 17-G of the Karnataka Irrigation Rules, 1965 as under. (1) Name and Address of the Applicant: (2) Location (Sy. No and Village) and extent of land Total Purpose of Lifting device Quantity of groundwater Source of the period of extraction of and its Withdrawal (mcft) and ground water use in groundwater capacity hours of operation in a day each year The description of [Number Whether for the source of of days to be drinking water ground water specified] or for irrigation and exact location or others (to be specified. ……………………… Office Stamp Issuing Authority Name: Signature: Designation: +++ By order and in the name of the Governor of Karnataka (MANOHAR V. ROTTE) Officer on Special Duty Water Resources Department ಮುದ(cid:206)ಕರು (cid:178)ಾಗೂ ಪ(cid:206)(cid:144)ಾಶಕರು:- ಸಂಕಲ(cid:163)ಾ(cid:297)(cid:144)ಾ(cid:312)ಗಳ(cid:133), ಕ(cid:163)ಾ(cid:143)ಟಕ (cid:170)ಾಜ(cid:205)ಪತ(cid:206), ಸ(cid:144)ಾ(cid:143)(cid:312) (cid:144)ೇಂದ(cid:206) ಮುದ(cid:206)(cid:158)ಾಲಯ, (cid:166)ೆಂಗಳ(cid:136)ರು